A LIFE-SAVING service providing treatment to patients across north and west Cumbria has been handed a multi-million pound funding boost.

The Heart Centre, which is based at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, has been awarded £3.4 million.

The money will be used to construct two new catheter laboratories, which will reduce waiting times and improve the quality of service for patients.

Dr Louise Buchanan, clinical director for cardiology at the Trust, described the news as “fantastic.”

She said: “Back in 2011, the Heart Centre was introduced which prevented patients from going across to the north east. We now see around 2,000 patients a year.

“Now, patients who have heart attacks are treated on site, which has improved the mortality rate.

“We only have one lab, so we’ve always known we have needed more to do the work.

“It will reduce waiting times and we will be able to do more complex procedures. It’s fantastic news for the population of Cumbria.”

The centre provides both planned and urgent cardiology care with 24/7 access. Prior to its creation, patients had to travel as far away as Newcastle and Middlesbrough to receive treatment.

Patients who suffer from a heart attack from across north Cumbria are brought straight to the Heart Centre where they can undergo Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) which significantly improves patient outcomes.

The treatment involves keyhole surgery to find blockages which are then widened using a tiny balloon inserted into the arteries.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) is one of only three acute trusts in the North East & Cumbria which provides this emergency service.

Dr Buchanan explained that she and her team hope to see more improvements to the service offered in the future.

She continued: “It’s always been our ambition to have better facilities for the people of Cumbria. We still have a lot of work to do but this is the start.

“Heart disease is quite prevalent in our population.

“It’s about the delays in treatment we have now - it’s really important, the sooner people are treated the better their outcomes are.

“The labs will be built directly next to the current Heart Centre at the front of the Cumberland Infirmary.

We look forward to the installation of the new labs during 2021.”

Dr Buchanan was also keen to remind patients to seek treatment for any issues despite the coronavirus crisis.

She added: “We’ve seen throughout Covid that people with chest pains aren’t seeking help. We continue to do our service despite everything.”