Service Information
Cardiac Rehabilitation Lothian is an outpatient service which employs a multidisciplinary team within the Rehabilitation Medicine Directorate. We are based in the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh but have a range of clinics throughout East, Mid and West Lothian.
The aim of Cardiac Rehabilitation Lothian is to provide patients and their families with the knowledge and skills to self-manage their long term condition. We facilitate both physical and psychological recovery after a cardiac event to reduce future cardiovascular events and improve the quality of life for patients living with a cardiovascular condition.
Interventions Available
During the initial assessment a range of interventions are discussed and an agreed care plan reflecting patient need and choice is established. In-house interventions may include 1:1 or group sessions delivered by a multidisciplinary team which comprises:
- Nursing and medical
Our nursing interventions include ECG, wound management and medical risk factor management. Our Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine can review patients with more complex clinical needs
- Occupational Therapy
We provide support for patients requiring help with returning to work including a detailed job analysis and work assessment
- Physiotherapy
We provide specialist support with physical recovery including individual assessments if required and appropriate exercises and advice given
- Psychology
Patients with more complex psychological issues are referred to the Cardiac Psychologists. Patients are seen individually for short-term focussed therapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy.
- Partner services
We work in partnership with colleagues from the lipid clinic, smoking cessation and weight management. We work closely with our colleagues in 3rd sector including British Heart Foundation, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and have direct referral links to Edinburgh, Mid, West and East Lothian Leisure.
A 5 minute educational RefBite video is available for healthcare professionals to view which details the key information about the above service. This video is available to watch under the “Resources and Links tab” below.
C.W & J.D 09-02-23
Who to refer:
We will routinely offer patients an assessment after RIE, WGH or SJH inpatient stays for the following cardiac events:
- a heart attack
- angina with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
- coronary artery bypass surgery
- heart valve surgery.
We also accept referrals for (please note this is not an exhaustive list, all referrals will be triaged by Senior Clinicians):
- angina
- cardiac arrhythmias
- spontaneous coronary artery dissection
- adult congenital heart disease
- heart failure
Who can refer:
Cardiologists, Cardiology Nurses, ANP’s, Secondary Care teams, GP’s and the Heart Failure Service.
Who not to refer:
- Under 16’s
- Patients with life limiting co-morbidities
- Patients with acute psychiatric conditions until these are well managed
- Patients being referred to Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic or Cardiology. Please consider referral once the patient is in the rehabilitation phase of their recovery.
How to Refer:
Please send electronic referral via SCIgateway: select site Astley Ainsley Hospital> Cardiology > Cardiac Rehabilitation.
If you wish to contact us for queries regarding a referral, or to refer to us from Secondary Care, please use our email address
Patient information website:
Cardiac Rehabilitation Lothian – NHS Lothian | Our Services
Information for healthcare professionals:
http://intranet.lothian.scot.nhs.uk/Directory/CardiacRehabilitationLothian/Pages/default.aspx
Cardiac Rehabilitation RefBite
