New Emergency Lift Installed at Hammersmith Hospital
Grateful former patients raises funds to speed up access for heart attack patients
A new emergency lift has been installed at Hammersmith Hospital’s heart attack centre, or HAC, after a former patient raised almost £100,000 towards the project.
The hospital says the new lift, which was officially opened by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock, pictured above with doctors, will speed up access to the specialist unit for cardiac patients arriving in an emergency.
Hammersmith Hospital’s HAC is home to one of London’s eight heart attack centres, providing specialist 24 hour emergency care and treatment for anyone suspected of having a heart attack in the west London area.
The project was made possible by one of its former patients, Mark Davies, who underwent emergency surgery at the HAC in 2017 after suffering a sudden and unexpected heart attack at home. After the care and support Mark received from staff at the HAC, he made it his mission to raise money for a brand new lift.
With support from Imperial Health Charity, Mark raised almost £100,000 towards the project after taking on the Athens Marathon - a year to the day after his surgery. He also rallied friends, family and colleagues to support his fundraising efforts over the last 18 months.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock paid tribute to Mark’s fundraising efforts and following a tour of the unit unveiled a commemorative plaque dedicated to Julie Bart, the NHS 111 call handler who sent an ambulance to Mark’s home after realising he was having a life-threatening heart attack.
Speaking of his experience, Mark Davies said: “The staff at the hospital were fantastic. They were all so good from the minute I arrived. They were an absolutely top team and were very kind in the time I was there, so I really wanted to do something to help.”
Professor Tim Orchard, Chief Executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are so grateful for the support of Imperial Health Charity and fantastic fundraisers like Mark who have donated so much of their time and effort to make this happen. It’s a great example of how we can collaborate to drive real improvements to the care we provide for our patients.”
Imperial Health Charity helps hospitals do more through grants, arts, volunteering and fundraising. To find out more about the charity’s work, click here.
October 14, 2019