Patients at the Countess of Chester Hospital can now access an advanced pacemaker technique without needing to travel to specialist centres.

The trust is now one of only a small number in the region to offer Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP), a specialist technique that could help improve long-term outcomes for patients with slow heart rhythms.

Until now, patients at the Countess who needed a pacemaker for dangerously slow heartbeats have typically been treated with a conventional device, which sends electrical signals to the right side of the heart to help maintain a regular rhythm.

While effective, this approach can, in some cases, affect the way the heart contracts over time. Some patients may then require ongoing medication or, occasionally, a further procedure to upgrade to a more advanced pacemaker.

LBBAP works differently by placing the pacemaker lead directly into the heart's own electrical system rather than simply stimulating the heart muscle.

By working with the heart's natural signals, the technique helps the heart beat in a more coordinated way, helping to maintain better heart function after pacemaker treatment.

The Countess of Chester treated its first patients using the new technique earlier this month, with support from cardiology specialists Dr Dan Keane from the Royal Free Hospital in London and Dr Patrick Hayle from Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.

The introduction of the procedure follows specialist training for the trust's cardiology consultants, catheter laboratory staff and cardiac physiologists, ensuring the treatment can be delivered safely and effectively.

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Consultant cardiologist Dr Dennis Caulfield said the development would give patients access to newer treatments closer to home.

He said: "By using a more natural way of pacing the heart, we hope to help patients maintain better heart function in the long term and reduce the need for additional treatments.

"It's a really positive development for our patients, giving them access to the latest techniques and improving the overall quality of care we can provide locally."

Nigel Scawn, executive medical director at the trust, added: "Introducing this advanced pacing technique means our patients can benefit from the very latest developments closer to home, without the need to travel to specialist centres."