Services / Service details
Congenital heart disease
GP support for people born with structural changes in the heart.
Understanding the condition
Congenital heart defects can affect the walls between heart chambers, heart valves or major blood vessels. Their significance ranges from minor changes without symptoms to complex conditions requiring lifelong care. Regular checks may remain important after surgery.
Common symptoms
Depending on the defect, symptoms may include reduced exercise tolerance, breathlessness, palpitations or dizziness. Minor changes sometimes go unnoticed. New symptoms should be compared with existing findings; severe breathlessness or loss of consciousness require immediate help.
Diagnosis and assessment
We review previous operations, cardiac investigations and current symptoms. An examination and, where appropriate, an ECG help assess the situation. Detailed assessment of heart structure and function is carried out with cardiology services, or at a specialist centre for complex conditions.
Treatment and ongoing care
Treatment depends on the specific change and its consequences. We support medication use, general preventive care and coordination of specialist reviews. Exercise, travel, pregnancy and infection prevention are discussed individually with the relevant specialists.
Monitoring your progress together
We discuss which changes to watch for in everyday life and when another check-up would be useful. Your questions, personal goals and how well you tolerate treatment inform further decisions. Where needed, we coordinate with your treating specialists.
Your appointment at the practice
Bring your health insurance card, recent medical letters, existing test results and a medication list. Note any changes in your symptoms and your main questions. Do not change existing treatment yourself; we will discuss together whether adjustments are needed.