The Cardiology department at St Peter’s Hospital has received a fantastic donation! HeartBeat Support Woking has generously donated funds to purchase a much-needed bladder scanner which will aid the staff working in the department to monitor bladder function in cardiac patients. This is particularly important when using strong diuretics (water tablets) to treat heart failure.
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (ASPH) and the ASPH Charity have been supported by local charity HeartBeat Support Woking and its wonderful team of volunteers for more than 20 years. During this time, they have raised around £85,000 for vital equipment for the Cardiology department and Rehab Unit, including exercise items, heart monitors, echocardiography equipment and software, and the Birch Ward Quiet Room for relatives.
Our Medical Director and Cardiologist, Dr David Fluck, is the Patron of the Charity which provides support to those who have experienced cardiac events, most of whom were treated at ASPH, and their relatives and carers. The Charity also provides a supportive social environment, offering peer support and medical and health updates.
Suzanne Lawrence, President of HeartBeat Support Woking, said: “When I started the group it was mainly to ‘be there’ for others that may be anxious about their whole cardiac event. Once we realised that we were going to ‘inadvertently’ raise money it was a natural thing to want to support ASPH as almost all of us had either started our journey there or had in some way been involved with the care team there. My personal experience with the Trust has always only been positive.”
To celebrate this occasion and kind gesture we welcomed three HeartBeat representatives and two donors, Richard Boulton and Alan Guy MBE, to meet members of our Cardiology team. Alan is a veteran of the Korean War, who made a donation in appreciation of the treatment his wife received, and Richard organised a lovely tea dance during Covid to support the Charity. Donations such as these make it possible to purchase key pieces of equipment for ASPH.
Present on the day was also Dr Ian Beeton, Cardiologist Consultant at ASPH. In his own words, he said: “Most of us know how uncomfortable a full or irritable bladder can be especially when strong diuretics are being used. The bladder scanner helps monitor bladder function and, with early recognition of bladder dysfunction, keep our patients comfortable and prevent kidney failure.”
Dianne Skeel from HeartBeat Support Woking, who visits Birch Ward weekly, said: “Having been a patient on the Cardiac Ward myself, I find it rewarding to talk to patients offering support and a listening ear when they are often feeling anxious about their condition.”
David Fluck said: “On behalf of the Trust, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to HeartBeat Support Woking and its members for their kind donation and continued support. As Patron, this Charity is very close to my heart, and I know that this donation will be greatly welcomed by the Cardiology department at St Peter’s Hospital.”
On behalf of the Trust and the ASPH Charity we would like to say thank you to HeartBeat Support Woking and to all Cardiology donors who made this possible!
If you would like to know more about how you can support us to fund other pieces of much-needed equipment and important projects at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals and how to help, please contact the ASPH Charity team by email -
Photo:
L-R: Richard Boulton - Cardiology Patient & Donor, Dr David Fluck - Medical Director, Dianne Skeel - HeartBeat Events Manager & ASPH Volunteer, Nuno Pina - ASPH Charity Funds Coordinator, Suzanne Lawrence - HeartBeat Founder and President, Edward Pleece - Cardiology & Haematology Assistant Service Manager, Charlotte Hopkings - Coronary Care Unit (CCU) Ward Manager, Cinjymol Edakkara - Deputy Sister, Alan Guy MBE - War Veteran and Cardiology Donor, Walter Hulatt - HeartBeat Treasurer, Dr Ian Beeton - Consultant Cardiologist, Bedford Ofosu - Cardiology & Haematology Service Manager.
