NHS DVD gets to heart of rehabilitation

A DVD has been launched to encourage recovering heart patients to take charge of their rehabilitation.

The resource is a virtual version of NHS Lothian's award-winning heart manual, which offers advice and guidance to cardiac patients.

By moving the information on to DVD, it is hoped some groups difficult to coax into recovery will take up the offer of help.

Louise Taylor, head of the heart manual department at the Astley Ainslie hospital, said: "Research shows that attendance on cardiac rehabilitation programmes is lower among females, individuals with low economic status, those with physical and learning disabilities and certain ethnic minorities.

"The DVD version will provide easy to follow audio and visual learning methods and will benefit, in particular, those with literacy problems, learning disabilities and hearing problems."

The DVD has also been translated into different languages, while everything is filmed locally to provide more of a familiar feel for patients.

For more information visit www.theheartmanual.com.