A MAN who was suffering 'blackouts' has raised a new specialist treatment service at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Ian Millington, from Mold, was referred to the Rapid Access Syncope Clinic by his GP following a sudden blackout.

Within three weeks the 53-year-old attended an appointment which found an abnormality on his heart tracing and shortly after he had a cardiac loop recorder implanted to monitor his heart.

After a second blackout a month after the first, Ian was seen that day at the clinic. His cardiac monitor revealed that his heart had stopped for 32 seconds, causing him to lose consciousness. Ian was admitted to the cardiac ward and underwent a pacemaker implant the next day to stop this happening again.

The service has reduced appointment waiting times for people who suffer from blackouts from 12 to four weeks.

Syncope, or a blackout, affects approximately 42 per cent of the population at some point during their lives. Syncope is commonly due to undetected heart conditions causing cardiac arrest and sudden death.

The service, the first to offer a dedicated Rapid Access Syncope Clinic in North Wales, opened the weekly clinic for face-to-face referrals in August 2020 and has reduced the appointment waiting times for patients by 66 per cent.

Ian, a technical team leader for the DVLA, said: “I was absolutely stunned my heart had stopped for 32 seconds, the loop recorder was incredible, when it was fitted I didn’t feel a thing and it records your heart 24/7. The care I received was amazing.

“The pacemaker has been absolutely life changing, I was home within a day and was back to work the following week.

"I don’t think I realised how ill I was until I felt better again, I’m sleeping better and I’m more alert. If there was a delay in my treatment I dread to think what would have happened but I don’t think I would still be here. I couldn’t thank the clinic and all the doctors enough for their care.”

With the support of cardiac physiologists, the service has reduced cardiology consultant clinic workload by approximately 200 new patients a year, plus the associated follow-up appointments.

Sally Owen, chief cardiac physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, said: “The service, although in its infancy, has already had a positive impact on patient care, and it’s great to see how this clinic has helped change people’s lives like Ian’s.”

The Leader: Sally Owen, chief cardiac physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.Sally Owen, chief cardiac physiologist at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.