ERI boost for heart patients

A NEW centre is being opened in the Capital so that patients too ill for open heart surgery will no longer have to travel outside Scotland for specialist treatment.

They will now visit Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to undergo a procedure known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (Tavi), the Scottish Government said.

Health secretary Alex Neil said: “There is a growing body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of Tavi and that is why I am pleased to announce we will now be able to provide this service in Scotland.”