Meet the team
The Wessex heart valve clinic (HVC) is delivered by a multidisciplinary team including advanced ultrasound specialists (echosonographers), an advanced nurse practitioner, a clinical fellow (senior registrar) in cardiology and several healthcare science assistants, all under the direct supervision of a consultant cardiologist with specialist interest in heart valve diseases.
Consultant
Dr Benoy Shah
Dr Shah is a specialist in heart valve diseases and echocardiography. He is the clinical lead for the Wessex heart valve clinic. He sits on the council of the British Heart Valve Society and is a member of the working group of valvular heart diseases of the European Society of Cardiology. Dr Shah established the Wessex HVC in 2018. He sees patients with all types of heart valve disease and oversees the patients reviewed by other members of the team. He will often be assisted by a senior registrar (clinical fellow).
You can find out more about Dr Shah on his consultant profile page.
Advanced echosonographers
Diane Gardiner and Adam Hobbs
Diane and Adam are both highly experienced echosonographers. They have scanned thousands of patients with heart valve disease and they also undertake other advanced types of echocardiography in our hospital. They will ask you some questions about symptoms and perform an ultrasound scan of your heart, as well as making a plan for follow-up thereafter.
Advanced nurse practitioner
Ian Johnston
Ian is an advanced nurse practitioner who has extensive experience of both acute inpatient cardiac emergencies as well as outpatient clinics. He will review patients after they have had surgery to repair or replace a heart valve. This monitoring after surgery is vital to look for any signs of complications that can develop. The clinic assessment includes a history of how you have been since you were last seen, a medication review, and reminder about the importance of good dental hygiene after heart valve surgery. You may also have an ECG and an echocardiogram.
Healthcare science assistants
Tracey Rowley, Katie Doughty, Aga Sawicka and Tara Hulbert
Our healthcare science assistants will welcome you to the clinic and measure your height and weight on arrival as well as your blood pressure. They may also perform an ECG of your heart, especially if you are coming to the clinic for the first time.
