Bupa and The Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) have launched a website designed to give peace of mind to people going through heart surgery.
The online hub has been developed for patients, families and carers and is relevant for all types of heart surgery, with videos of a surgeon, cardiothoracic nurse and patient following surgery all the way through from the first appointment to recovery.
This tool gives people advice and reassurance from trusted SCTS experts, with information they know is reliable and medically-evidenced.
Research from Bupa found that four in five UK adults turn to the internet for health advice, yet many admit finding conflicting health information.
Dr Steve Iley, medical director of Bupa UK, said:"Many clinicians understand the fear and apprehension their patients feel when faced with a procedure like heart surgery.
"This website will be a great resource for anyone wanting a human approach to what can be a difficult procedure to understand, with evidence-based information in one place, taking people from their first appointment through to surgery and recovery.
"We are proud to have partnered with SCTS to build this website, drawing upon decades of practical experience from their surgeons and nurses."
Graham Cooper, president elect of The Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery, said: "We saw a clear need for an online resource that patients could rely on for information about heart surgery. This website is the product of years of hard work in partnership with Bupa.
"We know it will be a valuable tool for the thousands of patients in the UK who are faced with heart surgery each year.
"It's also a great hub for surgeons, carers, and the wider healthcare industry, who can use the information to engage with patients and provide real-life examples of treatment and recovery."
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