A new multi-million dollar Cardiac Diagnostic Unit which could help slash the number of heart attacks on the Island is expected to be up and running shortly.

Hospital officials say that the new unit will be better able to serve patients, but warn that there may be a few hiccups until construction, due to start within the next three months, is completed in a year's time.

Chief of Medicine and Director of Cardiology Unit Dr. Shane Marshall said the new Cardiac Diagnostic Unit will enable doctors to use preventative medicine, which may stop some of the heart attacks that the emergency unit now deals with.

Doctors say the amount of work dealt with by the old unit has grown massively over the years, creating the need for the new one.

Dr. Marshall said: "I think the larger unit is going to minimise delays in having these very vital tests performed.'' He added that as priority for diagnostic testing is given to hospitalised patients over out-patients, out-patients are currently the ones who are most impacted by delays in testing.

He said: "The running of a new cardiac diagnostic unit will better enable us to serve the outpatient population primarily, and the waiting list will be cut down for that population.'' The increase in heart testing was put down to more awareness in the public, who are now going to their doctors earlier for assessment.

Chief of Staff Dr. Jack Patton said: "The new diagnostic unit will be able to speed that process and deter the impending heart attack. Early diagnosis is the single most important thing we can do for our patients.'' The $2 million unit will be located on the third floor of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital above the Intensive Care Unit, and was made possible through a donation from Mr. David Barber.

Construction of the new unit requires that ICU be temporarily relocated to the Emergency Ward. Renovations for this move have been underway since July 31.

Hospitals Board officials promised that there would be no break in service to patients while the unit is being built.

However, they warned that other departments would be impacted, particularly ICU and the Emergency Ward.

Director of emergency services Dr. Shultz said: "We have lost an area where we had 12 holding beds. We've made other arrangements to regain some of these beds but we do have a confined bed space right now for patients.

"We are going to do our very best to provide the best services, but we may not be able to afford patients quite the same degree of privacy and same amount of space as before.

And he warned the public of burdening the department with cases that could be dealt with by their own doctor.

"If it isn't a real emergency, it may be a good time to see your general practitioner. We are certainly happy to take care of any true emergencies that come in but there may be some delays because of the situation in the Emergency Department right now.'' In addition, he said that the numbers of visitors allowed per patient would be limited whilst the situation continues.

HEALTH HTH