Dr Mark Sopher appointed to National Service Improvement Team (GIRFT)

 

BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom, 28th August 2024:

GIRFT has appointed two additional clinicians to lead its cardiology workstream, helping to drive forward new work to improve cardiology services for patients, staff and the wider NHS in England, and support elective recovery.

Dr Mark Sopher (consultant cardiologist at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, and Dorset Heart Clinic) and Dr Stephen Hoole (consultant cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital and affiliated associate professor at the University of Cambridge) join the existing clinical leadership team of Professor Simon Ray and Dr Sarah Clarke.

The expanded GIRFT team will focus on identifying and sharing best practice in areas such as diagnostics, cath lab optimisation, reducing length of stay for elective and emergency cardiology patients, and improving outpatient services.

Dr Sopher is no stranger to the GIRFT programme, having previously acted as a GIRFT Clinical Ambassador in the South West region. Currently a consultant cardiologist at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, he has sat on the council of the British Heart Rhythm Society, and the Clinical Reference Group for complex invasive cardiology, and has supported the Specialist Cardiac Improvement Programme.

Dr Hoole has been a consultant interventional cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital since 2011 and is an affiliated associate professor at the University of Cambridge. He has been a British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) research council member and a committee member or chair for three NICE guideline committees.

As well as focusing on the broader improvement themes, each of the four GIRFT clinical leads has a key area of focus:

• Mark Sopher: cardiac rhythm management.

• Stephen Hoole: interventional cardiology.

• Sarah Clarke: cardiac imaging.

• Simon Ray: delivering focused bespoke support to trust and providing co-ordination with the Cardiac Transformation Programme through his role as National Clinical Director for Cardiac Disease

Prof Ray and Dr Clarke are the authors of the GIRFT national report for cardiology, which was published in 2021 and made 25 recommendations aimed at closing gaps in provision, and improving clinical pathways and access to imaging.

“The work Simon and Sarah have carried out for GIRFT over the years has led to some important improvements for both the patients using NHS cardiology services and the staff running them, but there are still significant challenges for the specialty and we cannot afford to be complacent. Strengthening the team with the additional expertise of Mark Sopher and Stephen Hoole means we can focus down on the areas where GIRFT can make the most difference and ensure we are driving forward the key improvements which will benefit patients in the future.”

Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT Chair and National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery for NHS England