“I feel like I’m actually doing something really useful. Every day, there’s something to fix, improve, or keep moving on the pathway. And at the end of the day, you know it’s helping patients.”
Adam Langley, a cardiac physiologist, understands the effort it takes for the NHS to meet the patient’s needs. He’s currently involved in a major shift in treating serious heart conditions through the TAVI pathway, which stands for transcatheter aortic valve implantation. His story also highlights some of the everyday challenges NHS staff face and shows how teamwork is essential to making real progress.
Language Barriers
One of the first things Adam highlights is how easily communication can become a barrier to care, especially for patients who don’t speak fluent English.
” It completely changes how you do your job. If they can’t understand you, they don’t know what’s happening. And that adds stress for them.”
When there’s no interpreter available (which happens often) staff are left to improvise.
“I’ve had to use Google Translate during scans. It’s not ideal, but sometimes it’s the only option.”
Even with English speakers, he avoids the ‘medical jargon trap’.
“We’re used to all the technical terms, but you’ve got to explain it in a way they actually understand. Otherwise, they leave more confused or anxious than they walked in.”
It’s a simple shift, but one that can completely change how informed and reassured a patient feels.
Trust in the NHS: Patience and Personal Touch
Adam believes access to healthcare shouldn’t depend on language or background, but he’s honest about how system pressures test patient trust.
“You’re supposed to get healthcare no matter where you’re from, that’s how it should be. But when people are waiting 35 weeks for an appointment instead of six, of course they lose faith.”
And when it comes to building trust, he sees a clear difference between generations.
“Older people want a personal touch, someone to hold their hand and say ‘We’ll sort this out’. Younger people just want to be seen quickly.”
This gap in expectations is a bit tricky. Can the NHS meet the needs of each generation without compromising either?
Finding His Path: From Volunteer to Cardiac Physiologist
Adam’s path into healthcare began through family.
“My uncle was a manager here and said ‘Come and do it with me.’ I enjoyed it so much I applied for the job.”
Though he didn’t get hired immediately, he kept volunteering until he did.
“I never looked back.”
Why The Team Matters
For Adam, motivation comes down to the basics.
“If you hate your colleagues, why do you want to come to work? Having people to chat and laugh with motivates me.”
Plus, seeing the real impact of his work keeps him going.
“It feels good to know you’re actually helping people.”
The TAVI Pathway: Changing the Future of Cardiac Care
At the center of Adam’s work is the TAVI pathway, a new approach that’s reshaping treatment for severe aortic stenosis. This is when the heart’s main valve becomes dangerously narrowed and doesn’t work properly.
In the past, the only real solution was open-heart surgery. It’s a major operation with long recovery times and isn’t always safe for older or higher-risk patients. TAVI offers a less invasive alternative.
“With TAVI, we can replace the valve using a catheter, usually through the leg. The patient doesn’t need open-heart surgery, and they recover much quicker.”
But the pathway isn’t just about the procedure itself. It’s about improving the whole process, from diagnosis to follow-up, making it faster and more focused on the patient’s needs.
“We’ve redesigned how patients move through the system: scans, assessments, treatment, aftercare. It’s all more joined-up now.”
And the results speak for themselves.
“Patients are getting seen quicker, treated faster, and they’re recovering better. It’s a proper game-changer for cardiac care.”
The Realities of Making Change
Setting up a new pathway comes with its own challenges.
“It never goes perfectly at first. You get feedback from patients and staff, find where problems or delays happen, and then keep making changes to improve the process.”
But Adam sees the progress clearly.
“It’s only been six months since we started this version of the pathway, and we’re already seeing a big difference. All for the better.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for NHS Cardiac Care
For Adam, the work isn’t finished. And probably never will be.
“There’s always something to improve, something to fix. That’s how it should be, we can’t sit still.”
With the TAVI pathway already making a difference, the focus is now on refining and expanding what it works.
“The pathway’s already helped loads of patients. Now it’s making sure it helps even more, and keeps improving as we go.”
Final Thoughts
The TAVI pathway isn’t perfect. But then, few things in healthcare ever are. What matters is that is moving in the right direction. It’s proof that real change doesn’t just come from new technology or policies written on paper. It comes from people like Adam who notice what’s not working, ask the right questions, and find ways to do things better.
It’s also a reminder that change in the NHS rarely happens all at once. The system is under strain: waiting lists grow, staff are stretched, and good ideas often take time to show real results. But progress does happen, often quietly. It’s not ideal and probably never will be. But bit by bit, that’s how things actually get better.
Exploring Healthcare with Beatriz Batista 
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