Dr Daniel Augustine
Consultant Cardiologist
Bath
PROFESSIONAL
About
Dr Dan Augustine is a Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal United Hospital Bath and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Bristol Heart Institute. He is the current national guideline lead for the British Society of Echocardiography. Dan is one of a few cardiologists in the UK who is accredited in advanced echocardiography (heart ultrasound scanning) as well as cardiac MRI. In addition, he undertakes diagnostic coronary angiography and pulmonary hypertension catheters. This in depth practice and understanding of non-invasive and invasive testing means that Dan is able to prioritise the safest and most efficient diagnostic pathway for his patients.
General Cardiology
Dan is the author and editor of national and international cardiology textbooks. This in combination with his role as national guideline lead for the British Society of Echocardiography means that he stays up-to-date with contemporary practice, using the latest evidence and guidelines. This allows Dan to give a modern and expert opinion on a wide range of cardiological presentations including:
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Chest pain
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Breathlessness
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Heart murmurs, valve disease
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Heart risk factor management (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure)
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Heart rhythm symptoms (palpitations, atrial fibrillation)
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Episodes of altered consciousness (blackouts or near blackouts)
Cardiology Subspecialty
Advanced Cardiac Imaging
Dan has rare accreditation in both advanced echocardiography (transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography) and cardiac MRI. Dan is proficient in all aspects of modern echocardiography, including 3D echocardiography. Dan also has expertise in stress echocardiography and has lead on the introduction of the exercise stress echocardiography service in at the Royal United Hospital Bath. He has co-lead on the implementation of the cardiac MRI service in Bath.
Coronary Angiography and Pulmonary Hypertension
Dan undertakes diagnostic coronary angiography and is also a member of the regional pulmonary hypertension team, a joint collaboration with the Royal Free Hospital, London. As part of the pulmonary hypertension service, Dan undertakes invasive left and right heart cardiac catheters, helping to manage and treat patients with high pressures in their lung arteries.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Dan is one of a few cardiologists in the UK who is accredited in advacned echocardiography (heart ultrasound scanning) as well as cardiac MRI. He also specializes in diagnostic coronary angiography (passing small tubes into heart arteries to identify narrowings) and pulmonary hypertension catheters (used to directly measure pressures in lung arteries and heart chambers). This in depth practice and undertsanding of non invasvie and invasive testing means that Dan is able to prioritise the safest and most efficient diagnostic pathway for his patients. Here are a selection of diagnostic tests which Dan undertakes:
 Heart Ultrasound Scans (Echo)Dan is proficient in all aspects of advanced heart ultrasound scanning and is the editor of Echocardiography, one of the leading heart ultrasound textbooks. Dan uses a combination of 2D and 3D imaging, tailored to the clinical situation. |  Coronary AngiographyCoronary angiograms are used to help see whether there are any narrowings in heart arteries. A small flexible tube is passed via an artery in the wrist (or top of leg) to the heart arteries and images are taken using an X-ray machine. In addition to coronary angiograms, Dan undertakes right heart catheters to help those with high pressures in their lung arteries as part of the regional pulmonary hypertension service. |  Heart Trace (ECG)Stickers (called electrodes) are placed across the chest wall. The electrodes are attached to the ECG machine to make a recording of the hearts electrical activity |
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 Cardiac MRIDan has full European Level 3 accreditation in cardiac MRI, one of the most advanced forms of cardiac imaging available. MRI scans use magnetic properties of hydrogen particles in water molecules of our body to create images. There is no radiation risk. These scans can be used to identify heart structure and function, to detect abnormalities with heart muscle and to identify areas of reduced blood flow due to heart artery narrowings. |  'Stress' EchocardiographyThis is a specialised heart ultrasound scan used to identify possible narrowings in heart arteries. It is called a stress test as the heart rate is increased during the test in a completely controlled way. Dan is an expert in the main recommended forms of stress echo - using either medication or exercise to increase the heart rates. |  Exercise Treadmill TestingTreadmill testing is valuable in certain clinical scenarios, giving information on exercise capacity, symptoms, heart trace and blood pressure response to exercise. |
ACADEMIC
TEXT BOOKS
Dan has authored and edited national and international cardiology textbooks and the success of these have led to Dan being commissioned by Oxford University Press to author further cardiology textbooks aimed to help European cardiology trainees through cardiology training on their way to becoming future consultants.
RESEARCH
Dan is the cardiology research lead at the Royal United Hospital Bath. He has undertaken a research fellowship at the John Radcliffe Hospital & University of Oxford and was awarded his MD in 2014. His research interests include the use of novel biomarkers for the assessment of heart disease and specialized techniques to improve cardiovascular imaging. He has extensive peer reviewed research journal publications. He has led on the implementation of the RUH cardiology departments first academic national portfolio study and hopes in the future to develop local research links with primary care and the University of Bath.
NATIONAL AWARDS
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Highly commended by British Medical Association for textbook 'Echocardiography', British Medical Association book awards 2014.
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Highly commended by British Medical Association for textbook 'MCQs for the cardiology KBA', British Medical Association book awards 2015.
CONSULTATIONS
NHS
Dan undertakes NHS consultations at the Royal United Hospital Bath. He is happy to receive direct referrals from GPs.
Private Consultations
Dan undertakes private consultations at the CircleBath and Spire Bristol Hospitals. Diagnostic tests are performed at the CircleBath, the Royal United Hospital Bath and The Spire Bristol.
Dan is fee assured with all of the major private insurance firms.
How To Book An Appointment
If you have insurance: It is usual to have a referral letter from your GP. Once you have confirmed with your insurance company please contact us.
If you are self-funding: Please contact Dan's team directly for flexible rapid access consultations or diagnostic tests. It is not necessary to have seen your GP beforehand.
CONTACT
PA to Dr Daniel Augustine:
Carolyn Fraser
CircleBath
Foxcote Avenue
Peasedown St John
Bath BA2 8SQ
