What is the programme and its aims

The Diabetes with Vascular Diseases Clinical Network has set up a Cardiac Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) during 2016/17, chaired by Dr Damian Kelly. The CAG has been established to improve and reduce unwarranted variation in the quality, safety, consistency, access to and outcomes from cardiac services and care resulting in improved outcomes for all cardiac patients throughout the East Midlands. The CAG is developing a work programme to focus on the clinical priorities that will contribute to this aim.

Who are the partners

• Acute provider trusts
• NHS England Specialised Commissioning
• Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Public Health England

How are we making a difference

By identifying the unwarranted variation in service provision and making recommendations for a high quality safe cardiac service across East Midlands.Organising a Heart Failure Pathway workshop in May 2018 to share models and facilitate dialogue between clinicians and commissioners on improving HF services and pathway models across the East Midlands.Input into Specialist Commissioning Review of ICD commissioning

What are the key resources

NHS England Specialised Commissioning service specifications for:

• Cardiac magnetic resonance
• Electrophysiology
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT)
• East Midlands Cardiovascular Network, 2013 : Safety, Sustainability and Accessibility Review
• National Institute of Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) data for 2013/14 Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) 2013/14

Who to contact for further information

Martin Cassidy, Head of Network – Diabetes with Vascular Diseases