SIR – I ask readers to support the Worcester Balloon Appeal, which will help me save and improve more lives in the county.
The appeal, co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), aims to raise £38,000 for an Intra- Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), urgently needed by the cardiology department at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
An IABP is a mechanical device used to support the heart function of acutely ill patients. It is inserted into the aorta (the body’s main artery), and pumps in rhythm with the heart to increase blood flow and cardiac output, while reducing pressure on the heart. It can also be used for high risk patients receiving treatment for narrowed and blocked coronary arteries.
Worcestershire Royal Hospital is due to commence a new range of services to enable us to treat more heart patients locally. However, we desperately need an IABP to facilitate these vital developments, while also continuing to support seriously ill patients on the intensive care unit.
You can get involved by giving up a few hours of your time to support fundraising activities, organising your own event, or by giving a donation. To find out more, please contact Sian Syddall fundraising volunteer manager for the BHF on 01905 797807, and help us beat heart disease in Worcestershire.
DR JASPER TREVELYAN,
Consultant cardiologist, Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
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