Helping Patients Feel Informed, Reassured and In Control.

Facing heart surgery can feel overwhelming, with many questions about what to expect along the way. To support patients and their families, Heartbeat is proud to fund a series of clear, informative videos designed to guide people through their cardiac journey with confidence.

These “Explain My Procedure” videos can be watched anytime, from the comfort of home, allowing patients and loved ones to revisit the information as often as needed. They provide easy-to-understand explanations of procedures, including the risks, benefits, and possible alternatives, helping people feel more prepared and reassured ahead of treatment.

The videos are designed to support shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals. While they do not replace personalised medical advice, they offer a valuable starting point for discussions with clinical teams. With translations available in multiple languages, created by medically trained experts, the videos are accessible, inclusive, and empowering for a wide range of patients.

“I found the short video very informative and reassuring. It clearly identifies the risks whilst showing me the procedure and most importantly the benefits of stents.” — Mark Cooper, patient

“I feel in control. I watched the animations with my son—for the first time we felt in control of what was happening.” — Janet, before her angioplasty

Heartbeat initially funded for the first five years of the project in January 2021, supporting the creation of 21 procedure videos. This commitment has now been renewed for a further five years, enabling the development of an additional 27 videos. Together, these resources cover a wide range of procedures, from routine operations to more complex specialist treatments, ensuring more patients and families have access to clear, reliable information when they need it most.

(These videos are available to patients receiving care at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), who will have unlimited access as part of their treatment pathway. Patients will be provided with the relevant video links tailored to their specific procedure.)