Win tickets to the USA courtesy of American Airlines

Return airline tickets from the UK to the USA are the top prize in the raffle for the summer barbeque to raise funds for Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme at Ashford and St. Peter’s hospitals and the recently established West Surrey Internal CardiacDefibrilator Club (ICDC).   The economy class tickets have been generously donated by American Airlines and will make it possible for the winner of the raffle to choose a flight (subject to terms and conditions) to anywhere in the United States that American Airlines fly to, including New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a treatment that saves lives but in the UK 60 per cent* of patients who need it do not have access to it.    It supports and encourages the changes people with a heart condition need to make enabling them to restore their health and return to normal life.   Heart patients who do not take part in cardiac rehabilitation are 25 per cent* more likely to die in the two to five year period following their heart attack.    Programmes are run at both Ashford and St. Peter’s hospitals but despite the statistics less than 50 per cent of patients accept the invitation to attend the programme.

At Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals more and more internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are being fitted.   ICDs, which are a life saving device designed to interpret abnormal heart rhythms, are fitted her in the Angiography suite at St Peters Hospital.     The ICDC support group was established in January 2007 to provide a forum for patients with ICDs, their partners, families and friends.   It enables them to come together to discuss and share their concerns and problems.  The meetings enable them to get up to date information in an informal setting about their condition and ICDs.  The West Surrey ICDC meets four times a year and a quarterly newsletter is sent out to share information with those unable to attend.   The group has an active social as well as educational element.

Tickets for the Cardiac Care Summer Barbeque, which takes place at Woking Homes, Oriental Road, Woking on 7^th July are available at £10.00 each from Liz Murphy or Karen Harris (contact details below).   

Tickets for the raffle are available from Liz Murphy or the ICDC dedicated line on 07747 326515.   Further information about Cardiac Rehabilitation at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals is available from Liz Murphy, Senior Cardiac Specialist Nurse on 01932-722207 or 723445 or e-mail her at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .    For further information about the ICDs please contact Sister Karen Harris, Coronary Care Unit, St. Peter’s Hospital on 01932-722207 or e-mail her at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .      West Surrey ICDC committee members can be contacted on the dedicated ICDC line on 07747-326515.

* - statistic provided by the British Heart Foundation.