Monday 10th July 2023
Last week, Heart Valve Voice once again teamed up with our partners at Valve for Life UK for another Your Heart Matters event. This time, the team went to Bristol, where we were joined by clinicians from University Hospital Bristol and Weston
The event was also about promoting awareness of heart valve disease and its symptoms and offering anyone over the age of 50 the chance for a quick heart check. Members of the public were invited onto the bus where a clinician would listen to their heart and do a pulse check. Anyone found to have an issue was given a letter to take to their GP for onward referral.
Bristol was the 11th stop on our nationwide tour with Valve for Life. Each city we have visited has allowed us to raise awareness of this common, serious, but treatable condition that affects 1.5 million people in the UK.
The day started on the radio, with the team from Greatest Hits Radio UK coming to the bus to hear about the event, get a heart check and promote awareness of heart valve disease to their millions of listeners.
In total, we listened to 220 hearts, with 15 people found to have previously undetected cardiac conditions.
Stephen Dorman, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation, Cardiology Consultant said:
“We had a great day on Wednesday supporting Heart Valve Voice and Valve for Life in raising awareness about atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease. We screened over 220 members of the public throughout the day.
“The fantastic team of cardiology consultants and specialist nurses from UHBW and NBT did a superb job.”
Heart Valve Voice Executive Director, Wil Woan, said: “Thank you to the clinical team, our volunteers and the people of Bristol for making this event a huge success. With every city we visit, we raise the profile of heart valve disease and highlight the importance of stethescope checks. Another fantastic event with Valve for Life, and I'm looking forward to the next step in our tour!"
