SHARCS - Sutherland Hospital Awareness Rehabilitation & Cardiac Support
Cardiac Rehabilitation helps people with heart problems return to normal activities and reduce the risk of future heart events. SHARCS cardiac rehabilitation programs are available to Sutherland Shire residents who have had a recent cardiac event or are at risk of heart disease. There are different pathways available to complete your Cardiac Rehabilitation journey. The programs are 10 weeks in duration and can be conducted:
- In-person in our hospital clinic
- Over the telephone
- Via video link
There are two parts to SHARCS Cardiac Rehabilitation:
- Part 1: Exercise
- Part 2: Education
It is recommended that you complete both parts.
SHARCS Cardiac Rehabilitation provides:
- Information about your condition
- An exercise program tailored to you
- Twice weekly group exercise sessions
- Education for self-management
- Emotional support
- Behaviour modification strategies
- Medication and physiological review
- Post surgical assessement
- Links to community exercise services and facilities
These programs can help you and your family deal with physical, emotional and psychological recovery.
Heart Health Information Session (approx. 2 hours)
- A group education session providing a brief introduction on to how to manage your heart health.
- These sessions are held by video-link once per month, please contact us for dates.
Topics include:
- Heart disease management and treatment
- Medications
- Risk factors for heart disease
- The emotional recovery
- Exercise and eating for a healthy heart
Assessment with follow up contact (approx. 1 hour)
- This is an individual consultation about your cardiac condition
- Advice is on all aspects of your recovery
- This service is conducted through either video-link or phone
- We will provide specific supplementary information to you before and after the assessment.
Please call or email our office to confirm your interest. We suggest to book in as soon as possible.
The SHARCS service is run by a team of qualified health professionals, including a Clinical Nurse Consultant, Exercise Physiologist and Registered Nurse, and aims to compliment your cardiology and GP care.
We are available Monday to Friday 07.00 to 15.30 by phone 02 9540 7309 and email SESLHD-SHARCS@health.nsw.gov.au. If the phone is unattended, please leave a message on the answering machine with your name and contact number clearly stated. The team will return your call as soon as possible.
Please allow one hour for individual initial assessment for consultation. A support person is welcome to attend. Please advise upon booking if a health care interpreter is required.
Gym Classes:
- Tuesdays: 07.30 - 08.30, 08:30 - 09.30 and 10.30 - 11.30
- Wednesdays: 09.30 - 10.30
- Fridays: 07.30 - 08.30, 08:30 - 09.30 and 10.30 - 11.30
Cardiac Rehabilitation is recommended for anyone who has recently been admitted to hospital with a heart problem or is at risk of developing a heart issue.
Heart problems can include:
- Heart disease
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction (MI))
- Heart surgery (bypass grafts (CABG), valve replacements/repairs (AVR, MVR, TVR))
- Stable angina
- Angioplasty and stent insertion (PCI)
- Pacemakers and/or defibrillator (AICD) insertion
- Atrial fibrillation (AF)
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) repairs
- Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
- Heart transplant
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors
- Other heart related conditions
The service is not available to those with heart failure, care facility residents, those with poor balance and/or cognitive impairment.
Contact us within 1 week of leaving hospital or when you are ready - the sooner the better.
Please refer to the section 'Who to Refer' for more information.
Heart Foundation of Australia
- To your individual initial assessment via phone or video, please have prepared information about your diagnosis, current medical professionals you are seeing and a list of medications you are currently taking. Additional information, such as ID information, medical history, employment, risk factors and activity will be discussed.
- To gym sessions, please wear loose, comfortable exercise clothes and a pair of walking shoes. Please bring a water bottle and towel.
All referrals are prioritised and allocated according to criteria.
There is no cost to this service. However, donations would be appreciated to contribute to sourcing new gym equipment and supplies. Should you wish to donate, there is a QR code available. Please ask the team should you have any questions.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak, and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and us on 9540 7309.