CARDIOLOGISTS in Wales are urging older people to consider travelling to Cardiff Bay next week for a free heart check that could detect a potentially fatal but treatable condition.

The team from University Hospital of Wales (UHW) will be in Roald Dahl Plass on Wednesday (May 7) with the Your Heart Matters mobile clinic, offering free stethoscope checks to people aged 60 and over as part of a major awareness drive around Heart Valve Disease (HVD).

Doctors say more than 250,000 older people in Wales may be living with undiagnosed HVD — a condition that, if left untreated, has worse outcomes than many cancers. It occurs when one or more of the heart valves stop working properly, putting strain on the heart and increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack or death.

Professor Richard Anderson, a consultant interventional cardiologist at UHW, said: “Most people do not realise how deadly heart valve disease can be — but also how common and mild the symptoms are. Breathlessness, tiredness, or just feeling worn out can often be signs of something serious.”

“Too often these signs are mistaken for ‘just getting old’. But if picked up early, this condition can be treated with surgery or a minimally invasive procedure and people can go on to live healthy, active lives.”

Barriers to care in Wales

The event in Cardiff comes amid concerns about delays to diagnosis and treatment for HVD patients in Wales, particularly those in rural or coastal counties like Pembrokeshire.

UHW and Morriston Hospital in Swansea are the only centres offering specialist valve treatments, but both are under severe pressure from long waiting lists and a lack of beds — delays which experts warn can lead to significant harm for those with HVD.

Dr Omar Aldalati, another interventional cardiologist at UHW, said travel and transport also pose major challenges: “We see patients who have to travel two hours or more each way just to get to their appointments. If clinics run late or get cancelled, it can mean people miss out on vital care — especially those without a car or access to good public transport.”

Encouraging early diagnosis

The Your Heart Matters truck is part of the UK-wide Valve for Life initiative, which aims to make heart checks more accessible. The stethoscope checks take just a few minutes and do not require people to undress — only to wear non-thick clothing.

There will be male and female clinicians available on the day, with language support offered for both English and Arabic speakers.

Nurse Cath Owen, lead clinical nurse specialist for Structural Heart at UHW, said: “If you’re over 60 and feeling more fatigued than usual, out of breath or dizzy — or just want peace of mind — please come and see us. The checks are free, quick, and could save your life.”

Event details

The Your Heart Matters truck will be parked in Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay, on Wednesday (May 7), from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Anyone aged 60 or over is welcome to attend.