Consultant's 'Outstanding Individual' Award
A heart specialist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital has been recognised nationally for his work in caring for patients with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Dr Dhiraj Gupta, Consultant Cardiologist, was presented with the ‘Outstanding Individual’ award at the Arrhythmia Alliance Excellence in Practice Awards 2014, for his contribution to arrhythmia services.
The awards took place during the ninth annual Heart Rhythm Congress in Birmingham, the largest heart rhythm event in the country, where doctors, patients and industry personnel come together to share effective practice, showcase innovation and learn about the latest national and international developments in the field.
Dr Gupta was selected for this award because of his role in a number of pivotal developments in the local provision of care for arrhythmia patients.
These include development of strong academic and research links nationally, with Dr Gupta supervising and examining doctoral fellows at Imperial College London since 2011.Most important however has been his role in establishing and developing a primary care atrial fibrillation service.
He said: “I am truly honoured to receive such a prestigious national award, on behalf of my colleagues at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
“We have long realised that the majority of patients with atrial fibrillation are seen only in primary care, with just the 'tip of the iceberg' seen in secondary care. As many of these patients are elderly and infirm, they are unable to access specialist cardiology care that has historically been based in hospitals.
“Through partnership working, we were able to set up an innovative consultant-led service within GP practices. This enhanced the accuracy of their atrial fibrillation registers, allowed us to assess stroke risk in all atrial fibrillation patients, as well as providing 'in house' anticoagulation assessment clinics for untreated high risk patients.”
Dr Gupta added: “The success of this model means that the service has now expanded across many areas of England and Wales. We presented data at this year’s Heart Rhythm Congress showing that the intervention has probably resulted in many strokes being prevented, and lives being saved.”
Photograph:
- Dr Dhiraj Gupta is pictured receiving his award from Professor John Camm, President of the Arrhythmia Alliance, and Dr Nick Linker, President of the British Heart Rhythm Society.