New £60m heart unit for hospital

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New cardiac centre revealed

A new £60m development at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) site will see cardiology and cardiac surgery taking place under one roof.

At present the BRI is the regional centre for adult cardiac services and performs around 1,700 heart operations and 4,000 cardiac procedures per year.

The new centre will allow immediate treatment to patients who have suffered heart attacks, and for clinical trials.

The project, the largest on the BRI site, is due to open in the summer.

One of the first clinical trials expected at the centre will use stem cell therapy to repair damage caused to the heart by cardiac arrests.

'Quality of life'

Reader of cardiac surgery from the University of Bristol, Raymondo Ascione, said: "I think in five years time we will have the answers and some of this research will be translated into practice.

"It will lead to better quality of life and possibly prolonged life expectancy."

The new theatre suite will have a physical link into the BRI to the existing cardiac theatres.

The centre will also include three catheter laboratories, a hybrid theatre, three inpatient wards for cardiac patients, a cardiac intensive care unit, coronary care unit and an outpatients department.

The Above and Beyond Charities is running its Heart of Bristol Appeal to raise £800,000 to enhance the facilities at the new building.