We have saved many of our older news stories
for you to look through here.
Heartlink had a wonderful reception from Dairy Meadow Primary School in Southall, and over 50 of it’s year 6 pupils when we visited on 6th December at the invitation of Deputy Head Alex Feldman. We went to talk to them about the heart and heart health as part of their studies about the circulatory system. In the lively question and answer session we were amazed by their level of knowledge and we shared some important heart facts with them. They were also keen to tell us what they know about a healthy diet and lifestyle, and we told them of the risks of lack of exercise, smoking and vaping etc. Many of the children told us that they have family members who suffer from heart problems. We were very pleased to see the school’s own feedback on our visit on their website, see:
https://www.dairymeadowprimary.co.uk/News/Heartlink-Visit-Year-6/
Thank you to Dairy Meadow Primary School and Alex Feldman for an inspiring visit.
A full hall of Heartlink members enjoyed the latest session of our Heartlink Community Hub on the afternoon of Thursday 16th November.
The popular Mr Chana led us in chair yoga for half an hour before we broke for some tasty winter food and drinks, followed by a couple of games of bingo. We were joined this time by our key supporter, local Councillor Mrs Mohinder Midha, who in her year as Mayor in 2022/23 raised major funds to help us campaign in the community.
Attendees tell us that the hub is particularly helpful in breaking up the isolation that many of us feel during the cold winter months, and enabling heart patients and others to chat about their problems in relaxed and informal surroundings.
The hub is held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at Greenford Park Community Hall at 18 Queens Ave, UB6 9BX, situated near to Greenford centre and Southall. Queens Ave is very close to Greenford Road, the Golf Links Estate and Dormers Wells and is on major bus routes 282, 92 and E5.
A lively and well attended Heartlink meeting on 2nd November heard an eye opening and informative presentation about the heart and the kidneys. It was given by Dr Marlene Pluess, Specialist Renal Registrar at Hammersmith Hospital, who explained:
· Where the kidneys are and what do they do
· What the causes of kidney disease are
· How kidney disease and heart disease are linked
· What we can do to keep our kidneys healthy
· That 3.5 million people in the UK have chronic kidney disease
There was a lively discussion involving many of the Heartlink members in the audience. This particularly covered food and diet issues. Heartlink thanked Marlene for helping us to understand so much important information about the kidneys and their role.
On 11th October a team of Heartlink volunteers were invited to the Heston Depot of Quattro (UK) Ltd to carry out basic health checks on over 30 lorry and concrete mixer truck drivers. The Heartlink team included five volunteer health professionals who carried out blood pressure and heart rhythm checks. Drivers were given a copy of their results and were recommended to contact their GPs if the tests raised any concerns. All of them were given helpful British Heart Foundation advice leaflets and details of Heartlink. The invitation was made by management at the Depot to help their staff to be alerted to possible heart health issues. The initiative is part of our work to raise heart health awareness in the community.
Over 60 Heartlink members and supporters endorsed the Chairman's report covering our progress since 2021 and elected a 10-strong committee to run Heartlink for the next year. It also endorsed an impressive group of senior medical staff to serve as our Trustees, including our president, Professor Kooner.
The highly successful Annual General Meeting was held at West Middlesex Golf Club on 5th October and was followed by refreshments, a raffle and a good chat and catch up amongst attendees.
The AGM was Heartlink’s first since 2019 due to all the problems created by Covid, and the meeting paid tribute to a number of long-standing members and supporters who we had lost over that period.
Unlike many heart support groups, Heartlink survived the Covid crisis, maintaining whatever support to members that could be provided. Since fully restarting activities in early 2022 Heartlink has gone from strength to strength, running our regular meetings & our hospital information desk, setting up our community hub, organising social events and moving out to raise heart awareness in the community.
This has been due to the dedication and support of members and volunteers, and in particular:
· The successful work to set us up as a Registered Charity
· Huge support from our Trustees
· The support of the then Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Mrs Mohinder Midha in making us her chosen charity and campaigning for us
We were very pleased to be able to thank Councillor Midha in person as she attended the AGM and gave us a speech of support and encouragement.
All the attendees showed their huge appreciation of Trevor Davison, who has been Chairman since 2015 and a committee member since 1996. As people said, without Trevor and all he has done for us, Heartlink would not exist today. Trevor stepped down as chairman but will remain as an active committee member and was given a thank-you gift by the meeting.
On the weekend of 9th & 10th September, a large team of Heartlink members put together and ran a well-received Heartlink stall at the Sant Ishar Singh Ji Smagam. The event was held at the SKLP Sports and Community Centre and attended by several thousand Sikh worshippers. Our team made good use of the Heartlink gazebo in what was at times blistering heat over the weekend and shared our space with Krishanjit and our friends from the Pingalwara Charity. A lot of people joined us for a chat and to find about more about Heartlink. Many thanks to Dolly and Amrick, who kept us well fed over the weekend, and Mohinder who coordinated all our arrangements.
On Friday 8th September a group of Heartlink members went to Wembley Stadium to join over 600 hospital staff at the excellent NHS Trust Staff Awards ceremony for 2023. Along with many outstanding members of staff and teams, we were honoured by having our Secretary, Lolin Jones receive the award as runner up in the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ category. She was nominated by Ealing Hospital staff for having ‘worked tirelessly for Heartlink’ and local heart patients, and for her ‘infectious enthusiasm’. She received her award from Chief Executive of the Trust, Pippa Nightingale, assisted by, amongst others, TV personality Amanda Holden.
The London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust covers three hospitals, Ealing, Central Middlesex and Northwick Park. The ceremony was held in the Bobby Moore Room at Wembley Stadium, and the Heartlink table, like all other attendees, had drinks and a tasty dinner before the awards ceremony itself. We chatted with friends from The Trust and local community, both old and new. In the photo we are pictured with the current mayor of Ealing, Hitesh Taylor and Syed Mohinuddin, Chair of the Trust's Quality and Safety Committee.
Over 50 enthusiastic Heartlink members took part in an interactive CPR training session at our meeting at Ealing Hospital on the 7th September. The session was organised and introduced by Doctor Harmandeep Singh, Heartlink Trustee and Consultant in Cardiology and Acute Medicine at Ealing Hospital. He explained that being able to perform CPR on a heart attack victim can sometimes enable you to save their life while waiting for emergency services to arrive. He showed us some informative British Heart Foundation videos about CPR, answered questions and then demonstrated it using a special manikin (dummy).
Then groups of attendees tried the CPR technique themselves on one of four available manikins. They were each shown and advised by medical staff and friends of Heartlink, who had attended to help with the training. We would like to thank Eve Maylas, Ben Jackson, Gary La Touche and Adelle who came along to help us with the practical training.Following the success of this, we intend to do more training sessions for members at our future meetings.
At a ceremony in the Council chamber at Ealing Town Hall on 17th August, Councillor Mrs Mohinder Midha presented Heartlink with a cheque for a huge £22,516. This represented the funds she had raised for us as her selected charity during her mayoral year, which ended in May. She did tireless and fantastic work throughout her year, getting donations and organising a large number of fundraising events, including celebration dinners. She was ably supported by Cheryl and the staff in the Mayor’s office.
A team of 15 Heartlink members were welcomed to the ceremony by the Mayor, her husband, Southall MP Virendra Sharma, long standing Heartlink supporters Councillors Harbajan and Ranjit Dheer, together with major donors from the Western Rd Gurdwara. Other major donors and fundraisers included staff from the Southall branch of Barclays Bank.
Heartlink chairman Trevor Davison thanked the Mayor for the huge effort she has made and presented her with an inscribed heart-shaped crystal plaque and a framed certificate of thanks. Heartlink representatives told the Mayor that the funds will be used to create a legacy for her efforts, by developing and extending our campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in the community. We shall involve her and her husband with us in this.
Fittingly, the ceremony was also attended by the wife and daughter of the late and much missed former Mayor Tejinder Dhami, who also raised substantial funds for us as his chosen charity,
in 2018-19.
For more PHOTOS see our Photo Gallery HERE.
30 Heartlink members had a great day out in Bournemouth on 18th August thanks to a coach trip facilitated by our longstanding member Krishanjit Bajwa, and to the generosity of coach driver Manjit and his assistant Gerry. Most of those going on the trip were regular attendees at our monthly Community Hub.
We set off early from Greenford Hall, arriving at Bournemouth late morning and avoiding some damp weather. We started by enjoying the pier, the prom and the rides at the front, with a couple of hardy members having a refreshing swim. Many of us walked up through the gardens to the main square and congregated in a Weatherspoons for much needed food and refreshment. Everyone had a great time strolling around and chatting with friends and fellow members. We set off back at teatime with Manjit returning us safely by 8pm.
For more PHOTOS see our Photo Gallery HERE.
In mid-August, a team of Heartlink members were invited to visit the Sikh Community Group Meal Gael at Norwood Hall, Southall. Mael Gael is a major community organisation, based at the Park Ave Gurdwara and running regular functions from its base at Norwood Hall. These include exercise, cultural activities and an extensive community garden.
Heartlink was invited to speak at a large meeting of the group and explain our objectives and plans for supporting local heart patients and raising awareness of heart disease in the community. Group leaders Dr Parvinder Garcha and Rajinder Garcha welcomed Heartlink and proposed areas of joint working between the two groups in the community. These exciting proposals include a joint programme to raise money for and train 100 community health advocates who will particularly focus on heart disease and associated conditions such as diabetes, strokes, COPD and comorbidities. The two groups agreed to develop and take these proposals forward together in the next few months.
At our well attended August meeting, 4 South Ward Manager and Heartlink Trustee Gary La Touche updated members about latest developments on the Ward. He outlined the cardiology treatments and services provided in the Hospital, particularly in the brand new Cath Lab, and how Ealing works in partnership with the Cardiology Units at other local hospitals.
He detailed the use of the 'virtual heart ward' for some patents, particularly those with heart failure, under which patients remain at home but are closely monitored by hospital staff using technology. He explained about the high standard of service provided to patients by the excellent dedicated nursing team on 4 South, and told us how much he welcomes Heartlink being able to reinstate bedside visits to ward patients.
There was a lively discussion with loads of questions about heart symptoms and treatments, and about the need to raise community awareness of heart disease. Gary and his staff were warmly thanked by the meeting for all they do for patients.
In the middle of July Heartlink members were very busy with a series of events - providing support and activities for our members and reaching out to people in the community about heart health.
On Saturday 15th July we were invited to run a stall at the Open Day at Meadowview Surgery in Northolt. There were loads of people there and we got a great deal of interest.
On Sunday 16th July another team of members ran a lively stall at the major Sikh Smagam (festival) in Springbridge Road in Hayes, close to the Southall border......
.... and on Thursday 20th July we held our monthly session of our Community Hub at Greenford Park Community Hall. As usual it was a lively, welcoming event - this time we had chair yoga with Mr Chana, bingo and plently of time for a good chat with tea & biscuits.
On a lovely warm summer morning on 12th June at Ealing Hospital, Heartlink held a well-attended ceremony in honour of
Councillor Tejinder Singh Dhami. During his term as Mayor of Ealing in 2018-19, Tejinder, who was a heart patient himself, adopted Heartlink as one of his chosen charities and raised many thousands of pounds for us.
This was used to purchase monitors for heart failure patients and items for the Cardiac ward at the hospital. During the period of the pandemic, these funds were crucial in keeping Heartlink functioning and were used to provide oximeters and oxygen concentrators. Sadly, Tejinder passed away in 2021 after many years of service to the local community and 20 years as a councillor..
At the ceremony, Councillor Mrs Mohinder Midha, who has just completed her own term as Mayor of Ealing, cut the ribbon on a new bench at the hospital entrance inscribed in honour of Tejinder. Tejinder’s wife, Rajinder Kaur Dhami unveiled a plaque in his memory in the Cardiology Clinic on Level 2. The ceremony was attended by Tejinder’s family and friends, ex colleagues from Ealing Council, Hospital staff and Trust representatives, as well as Heartlink members. The attendees heard tributes to Tejinder from his daughter, Neelam Kaur Dhami, Councillor Mrs Midha, Heartlink President Professor Jaspal Kooner and supporter Professor Stuart Rosen, plus Heartlink Chairman, Trevor Davison.
Tejinder’s invaluable fundraising work for Heartlink has been continued by his family, who raised £6000 for us in his memory, and by councillor Mrs Midha, who also adopted Heartlink as her Mayoral Charity for the year just gone.
After the ceremony, the attendees chatted and had light refreshments in the upper entrance area of the hospital.
The beautiful new Inscribed bench will remind us of Tejinder every time we enter or leave the hospital.
For more PHOTOS see our Photo Gallery HERE.
On Saturday 13th May, 15 staff members from Ealing Cardiology completed a 10 km sponsored walk from Kew to Teddington to raise funds for Heartlink. They were joined by 3 Heartlink members who brought our ‘high-viz’ jackets for everyone to wear. We all had a great walk along the Thames via Richmond. The walk raised over £1000 for Heartlink, as well as encouraging healthy exercise. Many, many thanks to all the participants, and all the donors from the hospital, and especially Niloufar, who organised it all. See more photos HERE.
Heartlink trustee Dr Harmandeep Singh gave a well-received talk on heart health and heart disease to a large meeting of the East African Asian Senior Citizens Association on the 6th of April. The meeting was held at the Dominion Centre in Southall and followed a chair yoga session which everyone joined in with. The Heartlink stall nearly ran out of British Heart Foundation booklets after the talk and a collection for Heartlink’s work raised substantial funds. The invitation to Dr. Harman and Heartlink was extended by Dr. Marway and the EAASCA Committee who requested a follow up session in the next few months. Doctor Harman's talk was in English and Punjabi. A video of it is available on request.
See more photos HERE.
A well-attended Heartlink meeting at Ealing Hospital on 2nd March heard Pippa Nightingale, Chief Executive of the NHS Trust which includes Ealing Hospital, and Nigel Stevens, Director of Cardiology for the Trust, talk about plans for the Hospital and the Trust, and respond to areas of concern raised by members.
There are exciting plans to open a new ‘Integrated Diagnostic Hub’ at the Hospital in coming months. This new facility will deliver a huge improvement to services for the public and will also address a major area of concern raised by many members. In future, patients will visit the new hub and be able to have a range of diagnostic tests such as MRIs, CT scans, blood tests etc. on a single visit, hugely speeding up the diagnostic process for patients and avoiding multiple visits.
It is hoped that the implementation of a new digital care record system in the Trust, as part of a national initiative, will help tackle problems about access to patients’ own records, including to test results, and end the confusing use of different hospital numbers by adopting the person’s NHS number.
We raised the problems many members have with digital communications from the Trust, such as appointment and consultation letters, emails and texts, which require modern technology to read, which they cannot use.
Heartlink voiced their appreciation of staff in Cardiology and across the Trust and the commitment they show to patients and local communities.
Both the Chief Executive and the Director of Cardiology voiced their strong support for the work that Heartlink does and said that they want to welcome us into the Hospital to support cardiology patients, many of whom need the support we provide. They stated that they see us as a key partner, helping them to shape services for local patients in the future.
Heartlink Trustee Professor Rosen, Senior Cardiologist at Ealing, thanked them for their support and attendance and said that the meeting was a big step forward in our working relationship with the Trust.
Our thanks to everyone who attended and particularly to Ben Jackson, Cardiac Cath Lab Superintendent Radiographer for helping to set up the meeting.
Pippa Nightingale, Trust Chief Executive, speaking at the meeting.
50 Heartlink members and supporters had a great evening at the mayor's fundraising dinner at the Royal Nawaab on 19th January. In total, over 200 guests attended the event, including local councillors, MPs, other Mayors from across London as well as business representatives and many from the local community. At the start of the event Dr Harmandeep Singh gave the audience a rousing speech about Heartlink and what we do to help local heart patients. (You can see a video of his speech HERE)
After the delicious three course meal, the mayor held a raffle and an auction, to raise more funds for us. As you would expect, she was ably assisted by Steve Pound in his normal role as auctioneer and master of ceremonies.
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