Coleraine has a big heart

The partnership between BHF Northern Ireland and Coleraine Borough Council ensures that locals have every opportunity to look after their hearts, through information, advice and support, as well as raising vital funds for the ground breaking research carried out by BHF Northern Ireland.

In Coleraine 78 men and women died of coronary heart disease in the last year. As a Heart Town, Coleraine has a wealth of support services for the local residents such as school initiatives, workplace health and lifestyle information resources. One of these support services is having access to a fantastic team of BHF Northern Ireland supported heart nurses at the Causeway Hospital.

As part of raising awareness and highlighting the importance of looking after local hearts, Coleraine Council members had the opportunity to go to Causeway Hospital to meet a group of heart nurses and get an insight into the vital work they carry out.

The heart nurses work extremely hard to provide support and care to patients diagnosed with specific heart conditions and to their families. These nurses see patients during their admission to hospital and provide follow up care in the community following discharge including home visits, nurse led clinics and exercise classes.

The heart nurses monitor the patients’ condition, adjusting medication as appropriate, and provide education, advice and support. Joanne Glass, a Heart Failure Nurse, said; ‘Coleraine to be chosen as a BHF Northern Ireland Heart Town is fabulous news and the heart nurses in Causeway Hospital look forward to developing a partnership with Coleraine Borough Council to raise the profile of this project in the Borough.’

Council members had the chance to have blood pressure checks carried out by our local heart nurses in Causeway Hospital. Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor Sam Cole had his own blood pressure tested. He said “Heart health is extremely important and we need to raise awareness in the Coleraine community about how to look after your heart.”