While the outbreak of COVID-19 has placed unprecedented pressure on the NHS, Public Health England's admissions data points towards a concerning trend of people avoiding hospitals out of fear of contracting COVID-19. While concerns around COVID-19 are understandable, by not receiving urgent treatments, patients may be putting their lives at risk. Peter Cobley was treated by the team at Kings College Hospital, London during the outbreak. After receiving an echocardiogram, Peter was diagnosed with aortic stenosis and told that he needed urgent intervention. Before being diagnosed, Peter had experienced symptoms of breathlessness and dizziness, but after attributing them to signs [...]

At the very height of the COVID-19 outbreak, retired postman and hospital worker, Lewis Benn, was awaiting treatment for severe aortic stenosis. Having been told he would have to wait till September, Lewis feared for his life, but thanks to the excellent work of Dr Dan Blackman and the team at Leeds General Infirmary, Lewis was admitted, treated and discharged over the course of just three days. Here, is his story: “I started feeling very short of breath and I was having trouble walking up the stairs. I wasn’t feeling good at all, I couldn’t breath properly and could hardly [...]

83-year-old retired office worker, Jessie Moss, was treated for severe aortic stenosis at the very height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Thanks to Professor Newby and the team in Edinburgh, and with the help of minimally invasive treatment, Jessie was able to receive the treatment she urgently required, and can now focus on her recovery and getting back out on the bowls green. Here, is her story: “I was flight really tight in the chest last year when I was playing bowls, and then gradually I started to get short of breath and found myself having to sit and watch instead [...]

At the very height of the country’s response to the COVID19 outbreak, George became unwell and was rushed to hospital unaware that the heart valve disease symptoms he was suffering were life-threatening. Retired factory worker George Clague has lived in the beautiful shadow of the Lake District for his entire life. In his youth, he would spend his time camping in his favourite spots and later in life, he and his wife would spend the summer wandering along the trails “It’s really hard to say when I first realised something was up. Part of me thinks it was when my [...]

Dental Surgeon, Ian Wintrip, was diagnosed with severe heart valve disease (aortic stenosis) late last year. A keen cyclist, Ian had noticed he was running out of steam early on the bike, but put it down to signs of ageing and learned to live with the new capabilities. Eventually, though, he knew something was up and went to see his GP. This is his heart valve disease story: "I first noticed that things weren’t quite right through my cycling when I was on a particularly hilly trip I would run out of steam early. Early on I put this down [...]