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Award-winning cardiac monitoring technology widely used by NHS now available for easy home use

08 August, 2008 People with a history of cardiac problems such as heart attacks or angina now have access to an advanced home heart monitoring solution, giving them immediate access to expert diagnosis of cardiac symptoms and providing rapid reassurance for cardiac false alarms.

The home cardiac monitoring solution from Broomwell Healthwatch uses the same award-winning technology that is already deployed in surgeries throughout the North West and in NHS Trusts across England.

Priced at £240, the handheld device lets people take a full electrocardiogram (ECG) test on themselves by holding the device over their heart and pressing a single button. The device records the test, then the user calls Broomwells 24-hour monitoring centre and transmits the ECG down the phone line for interpretation.

The centres trained cardiac clinicians interpret the ECG and give an immediate, expert diagnosis, recommending if the user should call their doctor or go directly to hospital or reassuring them if the symptoms are not cardiac related and are simply indigestion or heartburn.

An immediate diagnosis ensures the user receives timely and preventative care. Treatment is most effective if started within an hour of the first symptoms, but on average people wait 90 minutes, (and many wait much longer), before calling an ambulance as they want to wait and see if the pain will go away.

Arif Hasan 51, married and living in South London, who has suffered multiple heart attacks as well as an inflammatory chest complaint, uses the Broomwell solution to distinguish cardiac issues from other symptoms.

He said: I was caught in a vicious circle. From the moment I first felt any pain my initial thought was, I am having a heart attack, so I panicked, and this caused me further distress, making my day-to-day life unbearable.

The ECG monitor has improved my quality of life beyond belief, I no longer suffer from stress or panic attacks. The moment I feel any chest pain I can do a cardiac self-test and within a matter of minutes I know if the symptoms are related to my heart condition or not - without the need of having to go into hospital. It has truly changed my life, added Mr Hasan.

The signs of a heart attack vary from person to person, but common complaints include central chest pain, a pain which spreads to the arms, neck and jaw, or feeling sick, sweaty or short of breath accompanied by pain. Symptoms can also be as mild as discomfort in the chest, which can be mistaken for bad indigestion.

People who receive treatment within one to two hours of their initial symptoms are twice as likely to survive as those who wait four to six hours from the first signs of chest-pain.

Joshua Rowe, CEO Broomwell Healthwatch, said: Often people put down chest-pain to nothing more than indigestion caused by over-indulgence which will go away by itself. But with many cases the pain can be a symptom of something more serious.

Our 12 lead ECG Home Monitoring service allows those who are worried and unsure about their chest-pain symptoms to call our expert cardiac clinicians at any time of the day or night for an on-the-spot diagnosis. Those who arent experiencing a cardiac event can be reassured in a matter of minutes, whilst those who need emergency care can be immediately referred to A&E. Our ECG interpretation service enables clients to receive expert advice via the telephone any time 24/7, and within minutes.

Broomwells telemedicine technology has also been used successfully within GP surgeries and walk-in centres across a number of NHS bodies in the UK. In a major NHS pilot* of the Broomwell technology, use of the ECG telemedical service avoided referral to A&E and Admissions, demonstrating the potential to save 90,000 A&E visits and 45,000 hospital admissions.

Another major pilot by the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cardiac Network indicates that, due to the use of the Broomwell service, 64% of patients avoided referrals to Outpatients. The two pilots translate to a cost saving of some £100,000,000 per annum. The service is now deployed across virtually all PCTs in Greater Manchester and in numerous PCTs across the country.

*The full report is available from the website of the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Cardiac Network, visit http://www.lsccardiacnetwork.nhs.uk

http://www.contextpr.co.uk/mediafiles/12_Lead_ECG_personal_use.jpg
Caption: Image of Broomwells 12-Lead Home Monitoring telemedical ECG

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About BroomWell Healthwatch
The company was established in 2004 to provide telemedical monitoring services to GPs, Walk-in Centres, Community Hospitals and private individuals. Broomwells solutions include the wristwatch-like MiniClinic, which is linked to the companys monitoring centre by a home base station, 12-lead portable ECGs, and weight control solutions for congestive heart failure. These are supported by Broomwells 24-hour cardiac monitoring centre, which is staffed by experienced cardiology-trained clinicians giving immediate, expert interpretation of ECGs.

www.broomwellhealthwatch.com

Press contacts: Craig Coward / Priya Mistry,
Context, 01625 511966
www.contextpr.co.uk