History

The Group received
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2008

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2008

In the years since it’s inception in 1985 the Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Group
raised over £2,000,000 for the benefit of cardiac patients and their carers from across the Black Country.
Over £700,000 has been spent on hospital staff salaries.

In addition money was spent on: A Transeosophageal Echocardiography (TOE) machine and a 3D TOE Camera Life saving Telemetry equipment for the Coronary Care Unit. Life saving defibrillators for use throughout the hospital. Exercise equipment for use in hospital and at leisure centres. Fast track entrance to the Coronary Care Unit. Refurbishment and furniture Sundry additional items for the Ward to ease the patients’ stay

The Group campaigned strongly in April 2000 in support of a proposal to develop
cardiac surgery and interventionary cardiology services at New Cross Hospital
for the population of the Black Country and surrounding areas in order to meet the
Government’s revascularisation targets outlined in the
National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.
 
A petition in support of the bid compiled by the Group on behalf of the local population, containing
thousands of signatures, outlining the need and support for this development was presented in the
House of Commons by our local Member of Parliament and is recorded in Hansard.
The bid was accepted and became a reality in September 2002.

The Wolverhampton Heart and Lung Centre is a prestigious development of
tertiary services having provided the recruitment of many hundreds of
staff and the development of clinical pathways that ensure a first class service
for both patients and carers.

The Group Chairman received an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen in 2000 for his services to coronary care.		The Group President received an OBE from HRH Prince Charles in 2002 for founding the Group.

In addition to raising funds for the services it renders the Group provides a “PATIENTS’ FRIEND” service.
This is a one-to-one service for patients, both pre and post surgery, where a former patient,
who has undergone the same treatment, offers counselling, thus reducing the fear element. The Group also acts as the
“PATIENTS’ VOICE” locally, regionally and nationally.
  It has representatives on a number of committees in the Department of Health, MINAP, NICE,
British Cardiovascular Society, British Heart Foundation, and the Royal College of Physicians,
Society for cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, as well as West Midlands Region,
the Black Country Cardiovascular Network Board and the
Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust CVD Programme Board.

In June 2008 the Group received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2008
for its work in providing support and representation for the patients and carers of the
Heart and Lung Centre at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.

The award recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups
voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. The prestigious national honour,
which is equivalent to the MBE, sets the benchmark for excellence in volunteering, and the
activities of those awarded it have been judged to be of the highest standard.
This achievement is a tribute to all who have served the Group since its formation in 1985.
Each has played a significant part, whatever the sphere of service, and all take a personal share
in the achievement. Furthermore it goes without saying that each shares the gratitude of the rest
and also of every patient and carer who has made use of the Group’s services over that time.
Members of the Group are actively involved in volunteer work in the
Heart and Lung Centre, providing “tea rounds” for patients and staff on
all wards and in Outpatients Department.
As the Centre also receives patients from Dudley , Walsall and other areas, the Group maintains regular
contact and a close working relationship with its counterparts in the hospitals from where the patients originate.