“I’m now worry free!” said Pamela Evans, 79, from West Sussex after she took part in a pilot project at St Richard’s Hospital, which used patch technology designed to detect potentially life-threatening heart rhythm conditions.
The ‘smart patch’ is the size of a matchbox, making it much smaller and lighter than heart monitors traditionally used in the NHS. This means patients being investigated for heart rhythm conditions can comfortably wear them for up to a two-week period.
The pilot project was led by Dr Mark Tanner, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for Cardiology at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, involving 150 patients over a one-year period.
Dr Tanner explains: “Unlike traditional monitors, which most patients can only tolerate for a few days, this smart patch is lightweight, comfortable, and shower-proof, allowing them to wear the patch for prolonged periods. This increases the likelihood of diagnosing heart rhythm problems, especially if patients don’t experience symptoms daily. We found the results of this pilot project have been overwhelmingly positive, both in terms of patient experience and making a diagnosis.”
Pamela suffered from heart palpitation symptoms that would come and go.
She describes her experience: “I had a few times where my heart would start racing, which was very worrying not knowing when it was going to happen next. Getting fitted for the patch was absolutely fine. There were no leads and no skin irritation, and I could forget I was wearing it and just get on with day-to-day activities. During the two weeks, I had two episodes of heart palpitations and was really pleased it was picked up.”
Pamela was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. It puts her at an increased risk of having a stroke, and in some cases, atrial fibrillation can also lead to heart failure.
She is now receiving medication to reduce her stroke risk and manage her symptoms.
She said: “I’m now worry free and can go about my life. I go to exercise classes, beach walks and love gardening. I turn 80 next summer and can now look forward to celebrating with my family and grandchildren!”
Also taking part in the pilot project was Antonia, a 50-year-old physiotherapist from Sussex.
She started experiencing heart rhythm symptoms over a year ago, but unfortunately traditional heart rhythm monitoring failed to detect her condition. After wearing the patch for two weeks, she was diagnosed with an intermittent slow heart rate and has now received life-saving treatment.
Antonia said: “I would occasionally get dizzy spells with ringing in my ears, and I’d have to lie down to avoid collapsing. The first time I was investigated using the traditional heart monitor was really tough. The leads and wires were awkward, itchy, and uncomfortable. I could only tolerate the device for a day or two, during which time it didn’t catch any irregularities, which made it feel like a waste of time and resources. Wearing the new patch was a completely different experience and I could just get on with my day-to-day activities.”
Dr Tanner highlights the NHS’s ongoing commitment to exploring advancements in patch technology to enhance patient care. He stated: “Innovation in this area is growing, and this is one device we’ve trialled so far. Moving forward, our priority is to build on these findings and undertake a comprehensive market assessment to identify the most suitable patch solutions that align with our patients’ needs and NHS standards.”
Professor Katie Urch, Chief Medical Officer, said: “We are committed to improving patient care – both through projects like this, and our extensive innovation efforts. By harnessing advancements in digital and technological arenas, we hope to enable faster diagnoses, easier access to care, and an overall better experience for people across Sussex.”