Cardiac rehabilitation programme

The heart manual is to be given to the patient after diagnosis is confirmed and consultant agrees

Cardiac rehabilitation

The heart manual programme

The manual is divided into two parts.

• Part 1 comprises in six weekly sections a phased programme of health education, home based exercises and stress management.
• Part 2 contains information on anxiety, depression, stress and medication.

The manual is accompanied by two audio tapes consisting of relaxation exercises and further information for the post M.I. patient and their families. Patients, and wherever possible their partners are introduced to the Heart Manual by a trained nurse facilitator attached to the patients G.P. practice who makes contact after diagnosis.

The majority of post M.I. patients are suitable for rehabilitation by the Heart Manual method.

Criteria for suitability

• confirmed myocardial infarction 
• able to speak and read English 
• no known previous history of psychiatric illness 
• no current psychotic symptoms
• no evidence of dementia 
• no continuing uncontrolled arrythmias or heart failure as assessed by a cardiologist.

Potential recipients

• any Northumberland resident who is admitted to a hospital within Northumberland with a confirmed M.I.
• any Northumberland resident managed at home by their G.P. with a confirmed M.I.
• any Northumberland resident who is admitted to a hospital outside of Northumberland with a confirmed M.I. who is not enrolled on an alternative cardiac rehabilitation programme.
• patients living in Scotland but registered with a Northumberland G.P.

Service provision

Following referral, the patient will be contacted and steered through the programme by a trained facilitator.

Evaluation

Evaluation of the programme will be through the HAD questionnaire at one week and 6 weeks.

An audit of the service will be carried out by the cardiac facilitators.

• Brad Cheek: last updated Dec 2006
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