Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Service
The Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Service cares for patients who are born with a heart condition.
May 2020 - COVID-19 update
The vast majority of people with congenital heart disease are likely to tolerate COVID-19 as well as the rest of the general population and are not thought to be at an increased risk.
A relatively small number of people might be at higher risk and should take additional precautions (as recommended by the Government and professional medical groups).
People at higher risk from coronavirus
If you're clinically extremely vulnerable you will need to practise 'shielding'
The British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA) guidance states that shielding may be appropriate for people with:
- single ventricle physiology, (especially those with evidence of 'failure', and/or other organ involvement)
- persistent cyanosis (blueness, with lower oxygen levels than normal)
- pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (especially those on pulmonary vasodilator therapy (drugs specifically used to treat pulmonary hypertension)
- severe and/or symptomatic heart failure (particularly those on heart failure therapy).
The Somerville Foundation provides excellent general advice for people living with congenital heart conditions.
The British Congenital Cardiac Association offers advice that may be useful for your employer.
If you have any concerns, please contact us.
Tel: 01865 740412
Email: ACHD&PHT.Nurse@ouh.nhs.uk
About us
Patients can be referred into the service from their GP, from another specialty, or following an emergency admission.
Some adult patients who have a known congenital heart condition are transitioned from the paediatric service. Other patients may not be aware of their condition until later in life, and are referred to the service for further investigations.
Adults with congenital heart disease require lifelong follow-up, and it is important that patients attend their routine appointments.
The Oxford Heart Centre and Echocardiography Department run regular outpatient clinics to diagnose and follow up adults with congenital heart conditions.
Patients will normally have routine measurements performed which will include height, weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturations and an electrocardiogram (ECG).
An echocardiogram (ECHO) may also be performed.
Consultant-led outpatient clinics
- Tuesday afternoon
- Wednesday morning
- Thursday afternoon
The clinic is supported by the Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension Nurse Specialists.
The adult congenital heart disease cardiologists also have clinics at some of the district general hospitals in our region.
These include:
- Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading
- Great Western Hospital, Swindon
- Northampton General Hospital
- Milton Keynes General Hospital
- Jersey General Hospital.
Find us and contact us
From the main John Radcliffe Hospital entrance, follow the corridor down just past the main lift area. We are on Level 2 of the Oxford Heart Centre which is opposite the League of Friends.
For maps of the hospital, information about transport and parking and contact details please use the link below.
How to find the John Radcliffe Hospital
For further information, support or advice on pulmonary hypertension please contact the specialist nurse:
Tel: 01865 740412 or via the John Radcliffe switchboard 0300 304 7777 Bleep 6737
Links
Investigations
Our wards
Easy Read
Easy Read Patient Leaflets for you
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Adult congenital cardiac services - www.uhs.nhs.uk