The specialist heart and lung centre at the Golden Jubilee Hospital was the first to use a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) produced outside of America.

The device senses potentially life-threatening disturbances in heart rhythm and administers a pulse to prevent sudden cardiac arrest.

Unlike traditional versions of the device, the S-ICD sits just below the skin, leaving the heart untouched.

Dr Derek Connelly, consultant cardiologist at the Golden Jubilee, said: “This is a fantastic development for the NHS in Scotland and we are thrilled to be the first to make this technology available to more patients than ever before.

“Traditionally, patients at risk from sudden cardiac arrest would receive a transvenous ICD, which is physically attached to the heart wall and uses leads fed into the vein.

“With this new technology, electrodes are placed just below the skin, leaving the patient’s heart and veins completely untouched.

“This eliminates the risk of vascular injury and complications stemming from implantation or extraction and dramatically reduces the possibility of infection; resulting in better outcomes and far more efficient treatment for the people of Scotland.” The Golden Jubilee worked alongside the manufacturers at Boston Scientific to make the device more readily available to patients.

Paudie O’Connor, vice president of Clonmel Operations for Boston Scientific, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the expert team at the Golden Jubilee to implant the first S-ICD manufactured at our Clonmel facilities.”