15 June 2021
We're delighted to announce that Henry Smith, MP for Crawley, has joined our 100,000 Conversations campaign to raise awareness of heart valve disease. As part of his conversation, Henry, sat down with the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Heart Valve Disease, Steve McCabe MP, and Heart Valve Voice CEO, Wil Woan.
26 May 2021
Today, Leyland-based Dave Swanton, 64, became the face of national heart charity, Heart Valve Voice’s, #JustGo campaign as he urged heart patients to put their heart health first or risk worse outcomes. With an estimated 100,000 fewer heart operations car- ried out in 2020, it is feared that patients are reporting to hospital sicker, having masked or hidden symptoms due to Covid.
17 May 2021
Heart Valve Voice carried out an independent and impartial patient consultation on the NICE Draft guideline on heart valve disease presenting in adults. The process was patient-led and inclusive, with both treated and non-treated patients invited to attend. We recognised that not all patients want to share their experiences openly, so we developed an online survey, alongside an interactive webinar, to allow more patients to participate.
21 April 2021
73-year-old Nigel Masterton, from Edinburgh was diagnosed with a 'sticky valve' while on a trial assessing the impact of drugs on patients with aortic stenosis. After opting to have minimal invasive surgery, a complication during surgery left him in ITU. Despite this, and thanks to the extroaridnary efforts of the ITU staff, Nigel was back home with his wife and back walking the streets of Edinburgh.
13 April 2021
Martyn O'Connor first had valve disease surgery to replace his aortic valve 11 years ago. After his valve began to deteriorate, urgent intervention was required, and thanks to the excellent team at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, he was able to receive his life-saving treatment, and was discharged in a matter of days.
31 March 2021
Covid has placed a huge strain on our NHS and led to delays of thousands of heart valve disease treatments. With an estimated 44,000 cardiac procedures lost already, and an increasing backlog, a group of untreated heart valve disease patients have come together with a simple message - Just Treat Us. Delaying treatment leads to worse outcomes, but with timely treatment patients can get back to a good, even better, quality of life.
23 March 2021
As a part of the SCTS Virtual Annual Meeting 2021, we have partnered with Calon Heart Screening Wales to host a virtual 5 km run on the 8th of May 2021. The aim of the event is to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases.
08 March 2021
As part of International Women's Day 2021, we wanted to look at the unique challenges heart valve disease treatment presents women and how treated patients have dealt with those challenges.
26 February 2021
During the first national lockdown in 2020, Maisie Weir noticed herself getting breathless while walking in the Yorkshire hills with her friend. After being urged to see her doctor by her friend and her husband, Iain, Maisie was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis and told she required urgent intervention. In January 2021, and despite the pressures COVID placed on the health service, Maisie received her life-saving treatment.
12 February 2021
In 2020, during the first national lockdown, Jonathan Toms, 44, began to feel out of breath while out walking with his friend. Just a few months later, Jonathan was struggling to tie his shoe laces and, after a trip to A&E, was diagnosed with aortic stenosis. Thanks to the Mr Bahrami, the team at Royal Brompton and his wife, Julie, and two sons, Charlie and Alfie, Jonathan received his life saving valve disease treatment and is now on the road to recovery.