The Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Nurse Specialist team are a dedicated team of adult nurses who work as part of a wider multidisciplinary team to provide ongoing support to adult patients with congenital heart disease and their families. They support patients in their continuing lifelong journey with congenital heart disease.

ACHD nurses will work closely with and support a wide range of other health care professionals including (but not exclusively):

ACHD cardiology and cardiac surgery

Paediatric cardiac teams including transition

Obstetric teams

Cardiac rehabilitation and physiotherapy

Occupational therapy

Community services

Learning disability

Clinical psychology and mental health

Palliative care teams

Specialist pulmonary hypertension

Transplant teams

When will you meet us?

In the surgical or cardiology wards, adult intensive care unit

When you are an inpatient for cardiac catheter or surgical procedures

During outpatient or clinic appointments at the Level 1 Centre, or at a Local Cardiology Centre

At maternal medicine clinics

What does our service provide?

Support and advice throughout your cardiac journey from teenager years throughout your lifelong journey with congenital heart disease

Preparation for any hospital admissions at outpatient clinics, where we take time to explain and answer any questions with appropriate information

Education for you and your family about diagnosis, treatment, lifestyle and medication

Preparing you for procedures such as Cardiac catheter or surgical procedures

Support for patients with CHD through pregnancy

Act as an advocate for you, by supporting you in decision making and when having discussions with other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Help with referrals to wider health care professionals such as community nurses, psychologists, dieticians, learning disability teams and cardiac support groups

Assistance with advice and education about anticoagulation (warfarin and INR)

Help with discharge planning to ensure safe and effective discharge and follow up

Telephone advice for other health care professionals involved in your care in the community such as GP’s, other specialist teams, community nurses, higher education

Support for those who have recently transitioned from paediatric services