Community 24 hour ECG (Holter) Service

Stoke on Trent CCG had commissioned an Electrocardiograph Service (24 hour tape) in 2014 on a 4 year contract basis. Stoke on Trent CCG together with North Staffordshire CCG are extending this contract to 31st March 2020. The aim of the service is to aid early diagnostics and avoid the need for unnecessary referral to secondary care, or to support the shift of activity into a primary care setting. It is important that the use of 24 hour ECG is governed by evidence-based guidelines. The service will provide a 24 hour ECG test with appropriate clinical interpretation for GPs who wish to investigate patients at low risk of significant cardiac pathology or who have previously had a 12-lead ECG and for whom they wish to investigate further. The care pathway consists of pre-appointment communication with patients, the diagnostic investigation and a report being sent to the referrer which covers a description of the investigation, an interpretation of the results and a detailed management plan. Patients meeting the criteria for this test will be referred by the requesting GP and will be invited to attend a local base for fitting the device. Instructions on its use and return will be provided. Once patients have completed a 24-hour monitoring period they will be asked to return to the local base and have the device removed so that information can be digitally transferred for appropriate clinical interpretation and record storage. This clinical interpretation will be made by either a Cardiac Physiologist or another appropriately trained professional within a period that will enable the registered GP to get a report within 2 working days of the device being returned. The registered GP will use the interpretation to decide how to manage the patient from there on e.g. further diagnostic tests and/or discuss treatment options. The extension of this Contract is to ensure Patient continuity whilst ..............