In 2005 the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust took part in a successful national
pilot scheme for the treatment of patients having a heart attack. Instead of
offering clot busting drugs, patients had an angioplasty, an artery widening
procedure, called Primary PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) which
improves survival and also reduces the chances of having another heart attack
in the future. During the PCI procedure a small balloon is inserted which, when
inflated, widens the artery. In most cases a ‘stent’ is also implanted to keep
the artery wall open. Patients having a heart attack in West Yorkshire, York and
Harrogate are brought straight to the catheter labs at LGI to have this
procedure. Leeds now has the largest single centre Primary PCI service across the UK which is
provided to over 1,000 patients each year admitted acutely with a heart attack.
To celebrate 10 years of Primary PCI, staff in the Catheter Labs of the Yorkshire Heart Centre
decided to hold a Ball in Leeds. The Ball, organised by Stephen and Katrina Kimberley and Emma
Sugden, was a great success and the proceeds were kindly donated to Take Heart. The success
was in no small way due to Emma’s input, securing prizes, selling tickets etc.
The profit was a magnificent £1372.42 and the photo shows the presentation of the cheque to Take
Heart’s treasurer Alec McLean.
Thank you so much for this donation – it will be spent on making life more comfortable for our patients.
Gina McGawley
Take Heart Vice Chairman
Photo left to right: Dr Jim McLenachan, Alec McLean, Stephen Kimberley, Emma Sugden,
Katrina Kimberley and Victoria Worsnop.
click to enlarge