Archive for April, 2010
Children with heart disease in Northern Ireland to benefit from innovative Tele-medicine suite.
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
(L-R) Lisa Nesbitt, Aisling Smith, Cora Smyth and Deidre Meehan cut the ribbon to officially launch the 'Heartbeat Suite'. Joining them are Dr Mulholland (Chair of Children's Heartbeat Trust) and Dr Frank Casey (Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Clark Clinic).
The Heartbeat Suite offers pioneering tele-care, placing videoconferencing facilities in the homes of children with heart disease throughout Northern Ireland, allowing doctors in Clark Clinic to monitor those patients who may not be able to access other medical facilities.
The suite has been jointly funded by the Children’s Heartbeat Trust and the Belfast Trust. Dr Frank Casey (Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Clark Clinic) said “The support of the Children’s Heartbeat Trust has been instrumental to the success of the Heartbeat Suite.” He added, “The Heartbeat Suite allows us to utilise modern tele-medicine technologies. We can now consult with families and parents in their own homes, and it also improves our links with colleagues across the province, enabling us to provide diagnosis for patients in other hospitals too.”
Sarah Quinlan, Executive Officer with Children’s Heartbeat Trust commented, “We are very proud to support such a valuable and inspired resource. It is vital that families of children with heart disease receive the highest level of care possible and the Heartbeat Suite achieves this, bringing clinical care into the home and providing reassurance and support for families. Special thanks are due to the Meehan, Nesbitt, Smith and Smyth families, who helped raise the funds for this initiative. Each of these families has lost a child to a heart condition, which makes their fundraising and support for this centre even more inspiring”
The project has received invaluable support from the videoconferencing provider, Questmark who worked closely with clinicians from Clark Clinic since the pilot programme in 2005, and from their partners NIAVAC, installers of the state of the art equipment.
The outcome of this partnership between clinicians and industry, charity and the health service, is a world-class centre that utilises creative tele-medicine technologies to provide the highest standard of care possible for children with heart disease in Northern Ireland.
Hot off the press! New Spring Magazine available.
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
The Spring Edition of the ‘heartbeats’ magazine is now available. Packed full with news, local fundraisers, information and kids activities it will keep you up to date with all the developments within the charity and Clark Clinic.
For your copy please email sarah@childrensheartbeattrust.org or phone 07584 164 815.
Team Dramacious B tackle the Scottish Highlands in aid of Children’s Heartbeat Trust
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Team ‘Dramacious B’ have secured a place in the ‘Drambuie Pursuit’, a multidiscipline two day race across the highlands of Scotland in aid of the Children’s Heartbeat Trust. Dramacious B were placed in the top five of a public vote which means they are one of the ‘lucky’ teams who are competing to win this adrenaline pumping pursuit.
Alisdair Laird, member of Dramacious B, said ‘This may be one of the hardest and most foolish things we have ever attempted, but we are looking forward to it and hope to raise lots of funds for a great local charity, Children’s Heartbeat Trust. Thank you to the folks at the hospital and everyone else who voted for us, we are hoping to return home as winners!’
The team consists of four participants, Alisdair Laird, Gary Maguire, Chris Brown and Philip Taylor, whom, along with their coach Robert Beck all work together in the Cardiology Informatics division of Phillips Healthcare.
Over the course of the two day multidisciplinary event the team will compete against other teams and the clock as they face challenges including archery, buggy racing, white water rafting, rock climbing, abseiling, power boating, hill running and mountain biking over unfriendly terrain, from dawn till dusk.
The event takes place on the 7 & 8 May and we wish them the very best of luck!