£128k appeal for heart equipment for Royal Blackburn Hospital

The Heart of Blackburn Appeal aims to raise enough money to pay for a 3D echo-cardiograph machine for the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Echocardiographs are specialised tests which look at the structure of the heart. A probe is placed on the chest and a pulse of high frequency sound is passed through the skin.

The echoes reflected by the pulse show as a picture on a screen and the images provide accurate and detailed infor-mation about the structure, valves and pumping action of the heart, helping doct-ors make more informed and quicker diagnoses.

Appeal manager Fiona Turner said: “Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer and we need people to help us to reach this target to buy this equip-ment. This vital initiative can only be made possible through donations of time and money and there are so many ways people can fundraise for us, from organising a coffee morning to jumping from an aeroplane.

“We are delighted to be raising money for such an important part of the hospital and I hope everyone will get on board and support us.”

East Lancashire Hosp-itals NHS Trust cardio-logist Dr Emily Ho said the cardiology department in Blackburn perfor-med thousands of echocardiograms each year. She said: “The demand for the invest-igation continues to increase to assess patients who are short of breath and those with suspected heart failure and heart valve problems.

“The new machine will enable patients to be seen more quickly and this ultimately saves lives.”

Dad-of-two Nick Hartshorne-Evans, from Hapton, was diagnosed with heart failure at the age of 39 and admitted to the coronary care unit at the hospital.

Nick, 40, who has since founded the patient support group Pump-ing Marvellous, said: “I realised how important a 3D echo machine would be to evaluating heart conditions.

“This appeal will really help the people of East Lancashire.”

To find more call 01623 624558, email dunnb@bhf.org.uk or visit bhf.org.uk/blackburnappeal