Oxfordshire and Thames Valley community being asked to ‘show their heartfelt thanks’

A half million-pound appeal has been launched to raise funds for the Oxford Heart Centre, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Oxford Hospitals Charity unveiled its new Heartfelt Appeal, joined by members of hospital staff and the charity team.

The appeal aims to raise extra funds for life-saving equipment and state-of-the -art technology to support the care of thousands of cardiothoracic patients in the local region.

Consultant Cardiologist, Kim Rajappan, explains:

“One in seven people in Oxfordshire live with a heart condition, with many needing the specialist skills and care provided by the Oxford Heart Centre. It is one of the leading units in the UK – performing complex open heart surgery and groundbreaking minimally invasive procedures. It also has a 24/7 heart attack centre, where patients receive life-saving treatment within minutes of arrival at the JR.

“Oxford Hospitals Charity has provided incredible support since the Heart Centre opened in 2009 – but technology moves fast and we need the help of our local community to support the Heartfelt Appeal, so we can continue to drive innovation and provide the best care possible for our patients.”

Simon Rosenheim, from Upper Heyford Village, recently had major open heart surgery at the Oxford Heart Centre.

The sixty-year-old publisher is urging local people to support the Oxford Hospitals Charity Heartfelt Appeal, saying: ‘I owe my life to the Oxford Heart Centre team. This year I suffered major heart failure and I now know I was just days away from death. Without the incredible skills of my surgeon and the team at the John Radcliffe I wouldn’t be here today. 

“Every member of staff who cared for me did so with such skill and compassion – from the nurses, doctors and surgeons through to the porters and cleaners. I genuinely can’t thank them enough.

“We are very fortunate to have this amazing team in Oxfordshire, I truly think they are one of the best in the world and I know Oxford Hospitals Charity provides a lot of support to help equip the team with state-of-the-art technology. I do hope our local community will get behind this important appeal.”

Laura King, Head of Fundraising at Oxford Hospitals Charity, added: “We know how very grateful patients and their families are for the skilled care they receive at the Oxford Heart Centre, and are calling on them to show their heartfelt thanks by supporting this vital appeal.

“Half a million pounds will allow us to fund an array of support that will be a real game-changer for cardiac care in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley."

"This includes twenty portable chest drains to help patients to get moving more quickly following heart and lung surgery, and two state-of-the-art ECMO machines, that keep the heart beating during complex heart operations. We also hope to fund a specialist training mannequin as well as four portable ultrasound scanners, bringing hospital-level monitoring into the home.

"Without the amazing generosity of local people none of this will be possible. So we are calling upon our local community to support this special appeal through donations, fundraising and gifts in Wills to help the Oxford Heart Centre continue its excellent work saving local lives."

Please show your heartfelt thanks today to help your Oxford Heart Centre.

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