Colleagues from the Cardiology department, led by Consultant Cardiologist Mark Davies, Chief Cardiac Physiologist Mr Ragupathi Balasubramanian and Cardiology Registrar Dr Irfan Kazi, have sourced and donated over £1.3m of shelf-life expired equipment to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore, India.
Working with Arrhythmia Alliance & Pace4Life (A-A P4L), a charity that donates cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to people in need in low and middle income countries, the team were able to provide an array of valuable donations of potentially life-saving devices. The team were supported by individual fundraising, led by Gaynor Hancock (Cardiology Receptionist).
The devices were sought from device companies and other NHS hospitals from across the UK. They are no longer able to be used in this country due to having an expired shelf-life but can still be used safely. As well as donating the devices, our cardiology team spent time with the medical teams in India, completing more than 50 life-saving and life-changing procedures for patients across the week they spent there.
Mark Davis, Consultant Cardiologist at MKUH, said: “It was my privilege to collaborate with such a dedicated and compassionate team in Bangalore who accepted us as if we had always worked together. It is the only hospital in India which does not charge a single Rupee and all patients are accepted no matter their background. The whole team from doctors through to housekeepers pulled off real life miracles for the most complex patient population I have served.
“This mission was established through Ragu’s (Cardiac Physiologist at MKUH) gritty determination to serve a community he holds dearest. We are grateful to Arrhythmia Alliance-Pace4 Life for their charitable support, and all Milton Keynes colleagues for their continuous support and everyone that has made this possible. We have the fortune of making lifelong friends and colleagues in an incredible hospital, we look forward to heading back soon to serve more patients.”
This is a fantastic example of teamwork across the department and is an amazing achievement by all involved. Congratulations and well done.
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