The largest specialist heart and lung centre in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe

Heart

Last year (2010/11), we cared for over 29,000 patients of all ages on our wards and more than 137,000 patients at our outpatient clinics.

We performed the UK's first coronary angioplasty in 1980. Today, we treat over 1,100 people who have blocked coronary arteries and carry out around another 1,400 heart operations every year.

We carried out over 8,500 cardiology (heart) procedures such as angiograms, angioplasties, electrophysiological procedures and the fitting of pacemakers in 2010/11.

Our Heart Attack Centre at Harefield has pioneered the use of primary angioplasty for the treatment of heart attacks and has one of the fastest arrival-to-treatment times in the UK, a crucial factor in patients' survival.

The VAD (artificial heart) programme at Harefield Hospital, is one of the world’s most established VAD programmes with a long history of clinical, scientific and humanitarian excellence.

Lung

We help over 8,000 adults who have breathing problems caused by diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and severe asthma every year.

We provide specialised care for patients with suspected or diagnosed cancer affecting the chest (thoracic oncology). Our multidisciplinary team includes clinical nurse specialists, thoracic surgeons, respiratory physicians, oncologists, histopathologists, radiologists, palliative care specialists and rehab and therapies professionals. Patients benefit from the support of having often national and international experts in one place.

A specialist 'Lung Laser' theatre incorporates the latest technology in lung surgery and the first surgical laser of its kind in the UK. It uses a special wavelength laser beam to remove tumours from patients' lungs, with minimal damage to neighbouring healthy lung tissue.

An international reputation for our specialist paediatric services

We care for over 2,000 children with heart or lung problems.

Our on-site foetal cardiology service enables clinicians to begin caring for babies while still in the womb. Many are scanned at just 12 weeks, when the heart measures just over a millimetre.

Largest cystic fibrosis unit in Europe

We cared for 650 adults and 320 children with cystic fibrosis in 2010/11.

Top European research centre  

We are Europe's top-ranked respiratory research centre and our cardiac, cardiovascular and critical care teams are rated in the top three most highly cited health research teams in Europe.

State-of-the-art equipment   

We have a track record of significant investment in imaging technology, including the recent installation of the most sophisticated CT scanner in Europe. It can scan a chest in 0.6 seconds and the heart in just two heartbeats. In many cases, such technology allows diagnosis without the need for invasive procedures.

The cath lab at Harefield is one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Europe. The advanced equipment includes a remote-controlled robot that uses high-tech 3D mapping technology for increased precision when treating patients with atrial fibrillation and other complex arrhythmias. It also allows for precise catheter manipulation and reduction of exposure to X-rays for patients and staff.

The blood sciences laboratory at Royal Brompton Hospital, the most advanced of its kind in Europe, offers faster and more accurate results through a streamlined, contamination-free testing process.

Pathology

We are a national and international referral centre for cardiac and pulmonary pathology, offering a unique service to users and other healthcare trusts.

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