A new cardiac rehabilitation course has been started at St Peter's Hospital, Maldon.

Up until now cardiac rehabilitation sessions were provided at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, but Maldon patients have found it too far to travel.

Now the local sessions, which Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Group health improvement monies are funding, are being run by Julia Davidson, a cardiac rehabilitation nurse from Broomfield Hospital.

Said Sue Logan acting director of nursing: "The aim of the course is to promote a healthier way of life for our patients and return them to a state of well-being which is acceptable to them."

She added: "We also aim to provide support for patients and their families during their recovery.

"The course consists of eight weekly sessions which include exercise, relaxation and a different health topic and there is input from cardiac rehabilitation nurses, physiotherapists, health visitors, pharmacists and dieticians."

An initial group of 10 patients who have recently suffered from a heart attack or heart surgery, have started the course and feedback from this initial course will help to plan future courses.

Ms Logan added: "We hope to develop closer links with the locality to link in with local practices, leisure centres and services to provide ongoing support for our patients when they have completed the course."

<LI. Local link: Having his pulse checked by nurse Julie Davidson is Eric Marfleet.

By Amanda Brandon

Reporter's e-mail: amanda.brandon@essex-chronicle.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.