Hospital Trust expands specialist heart service

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) has expanded its specialist heart service with the opening of a new state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab).

The investment will help more patients across the south access timely care by increasing capacity for specialist cardiac services, helping to reduce waiting times and supporting improved patient outcomes.

The new facility provides a dedicated environment for both planned and emergency cardiac procedures, delivered by a highly skilled team including consultant cardiologists, cardiac physiologists, specialist nurses, radiographers and healthcare support workers.

Equipped with advanced imaging and AI-powered technology, the cath lab supports a wide range of procedures, including coronary angiograms, angioplasty and stent insertion, pacemaker and defibrillator implantation, cardiac ablation, and minimally invasive heart valve replacement and repair.

UHS is home to one of the largest and most respected cardiac centres in the UK. Last year, cardiology teams carried out around 3,500 emergency and planned procedures through the Trust's cath labs.

The new facility is expected to provide capacity for more than 300 additional cardiac procedures each year, while also freeing up the Trust's hybrid theatre for around 60 extra thoracic cases, helping more patients access specialist treatment sooner and supporting reduced waiting times across the region.

Gail Doran, care group manager for cardiovascular and thoracic at UHS, said: "We are delighted to see our new cath lab now open, reflecting the Trust’s commitment to continually enhancing services for patients across the south.

"As one of the UK's leading cardiac centres, it is vital that we continue to invest in the facilities and technology needed to meet growing demand. This new cath lab increases our capacity for both planned and emergency procedures, helping more patients access timely, specialist cardiovascular care and, using the very best technology, supporting our teams to deliver the highest standards of treatment."

Alongside the new cath lab, UHS has refurbished a ward area to create a dedicated transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) unit and invested in specialist ultrasound and patient monitoring equipment to support recovery and post-procedure care.

Further plans to increase capacity include upgrading and repurposing space within the unit to improve patient flow, supporting the Trust's wider transformation programme and enabling faster access to specialist cardiac care.

Paul Grundy, chief medical officer at UHS, said: "This new cath lab is the result of an enormous team effort across UHS. Colleagues from our clinical, operational, estates, digital and finance teams have worked together behind the scenes over many months to bring this facility to life, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and expertise.

"We are also extremely grateful to Edwards Lifesciences and Siemens Healthineers for their support in helping us create a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest technology. This investment will enable our teams to deliver even higher-quality care and achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.

"Importantly, this is just the beginning. With upgrades to three cath labs planned over the next year, we are continuing to invest in the future of cardiac care. Together, these facilities will create a world-class cardiac hub, benefiting thousands of patients from Southampton and across the wider region for years to come."

The new facility was officially opened by Mr Grundy and members of the clinical teams who will be delivering care within the new facility, alongside representatives from Siemens Healthineers and Edwards Lifesciences.

Richard Jansen, Head of Siemens Healthineers Enterprise Services, Great Britain & Ireland, said: “At Siemens Healthineers, we are incredibly proud to support University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in bringing this new cardiac catheterisation laboratory to life. Through our Value Partnership, we have worked closely with UHS on the planning, design and development of the facility, transforming an existing X-ray room and adjacent areas into a state-of-the-art environment for cardiac care.

“But ultimately, this is not about a room full of very capable technology. It is about the thousands of patients who will come through this Cath Lab at pivotal moments in their lives, and the dedicated clinical teams caring for them. We are proud that our technology and expertise can support those teams in diagnosing and treating patients, enabling better outcomes and helping transform cardiovascular care for thousands of patients and their families.

“The ARTIS icono.vision system with OPTIQ AI is an important part of that, supporting cardiovascular interventions with excellent image quality while helping clinical teams manage radiation dose. Through our partnership, we look forward to continuing to support UHS, its clinical teams and, most importantly, the patients and families who will benefit from this new cath lab for many years to come.”