A HEART valve clinical nurse specialist who works at Coventry’s University Hospital has taken her work on how to improve things for patients to the Houses of Parliament.
Lauren Deegan is on a panel of heart valve disease experts looking at why women with aortic stenosis, where blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta is restricted, are less likely to receive treatment than men.
The group’s findings were taken to Parliament to be presented to MPs earlier this month.
“I jumped at the chance to get involved,” said Lauren.
“Because men are more likely to have cardiovascular disease and heart attacks, they’re already in the cardiology system which increases chances for valve disease diagnosis.
“Anecdotally, what we found is women will put their symptoms down to old age and are less likely to present to their doctor.
“But when they do go, sometimes the GP will attribute the symptoms to something else and are not always listening to the heart.
“We want to raise awareness because when female patients do get treatment their outcomes are better than men’s.”
Symptoms of aortic stenosis include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and chest pain.
Yearly heart checks, a government awareness campaign and more education for clinicians were among the group’s suggestions to improve referral to treatment time.
The group are now awaiting feedback from MPs.
Lauren added: “It was quite overwhelming but very exciting.
“I was quite emotional when I first got to the Houses of Parliament but just felt really proud as I was the only nurse asked to be involved.”
