Overview

The period 1926 - 1952 was marked by the appointment of the hospital's first cardiologist and the acquisition of the first ECG machine. The period ends just as the first invasive investigations of heart disease were being done.
Read the recollections of Sir Charles Burns here.

The period 1953 - 1966 was marked by the early growth of cardiac catheterisation and cardiac surgery.   In addition, potent treatments for hypertension had become available and the Hypertension Clinic was established.

The years 1967 - 1985 saw the establishment of a CCU and the continued improvements in diagnostic capability, with the introduction of new invasive and non-invasive techniques.

The period 1986 - 2000 saw the beginnings of interventional cardiology, in large part for coronary disease and to a small extent for selected patients with valve disease.

The years 2001 - 2012 are marked by the establishment of a full electrophysiology service which, although interrupted by the loss of key staff in 2006, is back up and running in 2012.

Let us return to the first era.  The developing recognition and understanding of heart disease is reflected in the diagnoses made at discharge or death in the years 1924 - 1952.  In some instances, the variations reflect changes in the way a disease or disorder is described, but there are also new diagnoses being made.