Who we are
We are a group of paediatricians and neonatologists working at The James Cook University Hospital with expertise in heart problems.
What we do
We screen patients with potential heart problems and manage patients from premature babies up to age 16 years.
Our services are linked to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle which is our tertiary referral centre. We are part of the North East and North Cumbria Congenital Heart Disease Network (NENC).
- Investigations undertaken
- Paediatric echocardiography – inpatient and outpatient
- ECG
- Prolonged ECG monitoring – both 24 hour recording and Cardio-Memo over two weeks
- We are currently in the process of establishing exercise testing in the teenage age group.
Referral advice
We take GP referrals for heart murmurs, palpitations, syncope, close family history of inherited cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia (for example long QT syndrome), symptoms of cardiac failure.
In addition to our referral clinics there is a children and young people’s outreach clinic once a month undertaken by the visiting cardiologist from the Freeman Hospital.
This is usually reserved for patients discharged from Freeman post cardiac surgery or referred by the team here at James Cook.
Useful resources
- North East and North Cumbria Congenital Heart Disease Network (NENC) – provides details of all the hospitals involved in providing cardiac care in the region. Please look under the patient and families section for more details.
- The Children’s Heart Unit Fund – a pioneering charity which supports children and families who receive treatment at the children’s heart unit based at the Freeman Hospital and the many other hospitals providing care for cardiac patients throughout the North of England.
- Syncope Trust And Reflex Anoxic Seizures – offers support and information on syncope and reflex anoxic seizures.
- British Heart Foundation page – information about congenital heart conditions.