INGA Wellbeing Gown
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INGA Wellbeing

UPDATE: INGA WELLBEING IS NO LONGER TRADING We are delighted to announce that we are currently working with INGA Wellbeing to ensure that adult congenital heart disease patients have the opportunity to wear comfortable clothes that look entirely…
Open Heart Book Review
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IBC Charity of the Year

We are delighted to have been chosen as one of Ipswich Borough Councils charities for 2019. Being a chosen charity allows us to attend IBC managed events and collect donations. We will be attending Ipswich Music Day, held inside Christchurch…

Scottish Standards Review

Scottish Standards Review The Somerville Foundation appointed me as their (voluntary) Campaign Manager in Scotland after seeing me present evidence to The Scottish Public Petitions Committee at the Scottish Parliament in 2012. I had submitted…
GDPR

GDPR Update

The Somerville Foundation Legitimate interests Statement The Somerville Foundation has been working hard to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulations to ensure that you have full access to our services and that all your data…
Heart next to a microphone
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Annual Conference London 2018

We very much hope that you will be able to join us for our Annual Conference which this year will be held at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. As always we will do our best to support your attendance. If you are currently unwell or have…
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Contraception for Women with a Heart Condition

There are several types of contraception available that work in different ways, and some also provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this leaflet we will hopefully provide you with information so you know which…
Nurse listening to young female patient's heart
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A Guide to Adult Cardiac Care (Transition)

Growing up can be an exciting time, with many changes and opportunities; a first job, going to university, new friends and new relationships. It will also mean that at some point, when are you are between the ages of 16 and 18 years, you will…
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Personal Health Passport

Personal Health Passport For your own pocket-sized copy of our Personal Health Passport, contact admin@thesf.org.uk or call The Somerville Foundation office on 01473 252007. Download Personal Health Passport PDF
Fabric hearts being held in hands
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What will survive of us is love

Yesterday, I went to the wedding of a very dear friend. He’s not a friend I see often, but somehow, despite neither of us not being very good at keeping in touch these days, we have remained friends. The wedding invitation was quite possibly…
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Vertical and horizontal

In Come Dance With Me, by Russell Hoban (again), one of the characters, a doctor, makes an interesting observation about the doctor-patient relationship, imparted to him by his predecessor at the hospital: ‘It’s a matter of the vertical vis-a-vis the…
hands holding a small red heart
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The story of my heart

Is that a song title? It might be. Anyway, I still haven’t even started writing my GUCH story, and only 33 (? maths isn’t my strong point)days until the deadline.  Actually, that is quite a while, maybe that’s why I haven’t started…

Wisdom tooth

I had my third wisdom tooth out yesterday. The local anaesthetic injections were the worst bit. I didn’t cry as much as when I had the filling in June. I kept the tooth, although now I’m not sure what to do with it. Wisdom Teeth by Taryn…
Patient lying down in a hospital bed

Great expectations? How experience of chronic ill health affects what we expect

This post is about: how experience of chronic illness affects how and what people with chronic ill health expect of themselves and their experiences (particularly medical interventions) what expectations ‘healthy’ people have of…
zetasafe and the somerville foundation
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The Somerville Foundation partners with Zetasafe

ZetaSafe, global leader in quality, safety, compliance and data solutions is delighted to announce its’ new partnership with the UK’s only dedicated congenital heart charity, The Somerville Foundation. Managing Director of ZetaSafe, Andrew…

Joint collaboration - Research

Introduction There are many research studies being undertaken within the GUCH unit at The Heart Hospital that will be ongoing at The Barts Heart Centre after our merger. We’d like to highlight some of our projects that may be interesting…

What is it like to wake up in Intensive Care?

The intensive care unit (ICU) is an area of the hospital that is unfamiliar to many people. As a congenital heart patient, the prospect of a stay in intensive care is a real one. As intensive care nurses, we would like to share with you what…
Surgeon looking at digital heart on a screen

Our research policy

The Somerville Foundation Research Policy Overview The Somerville Foundation (TSF) welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with researchers, when their research is likely to benefit patients, and the patient’s participation will…
Surgeon looking at digital heart on a screen
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UK's first congenital heart research centre opens

UK's first congenital heart research centre opens We are delighted to inform you that a new Congenital Research Centre, the UK's first dedicated centre will officially open on Wednesday 4th May 2016 at 7.00pm. Join us on launch night and…
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Living with a pacemaker

In GUCH News (issue 72), patient and member Kulsoom Akbar shared her story with us. Kulsoom, now aged 25, had her first pacemaker fitted at just 17 months. Growing up with the device, Kulsoom has encountered many issues, but has also embraced…

Transplantation

****This article was first published in GUCH News issue 73 Summer 2013.****   Mr James Barnard, Consultant in Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester Dr Clive Lewis, Consultant Cardiologist and Transplant…
Open Heart Book Review

The Open Heart Companion - Book review

The Open Heart Companion: Preparation and Guidance for Open-Heart Surgery Recovery Buy The Open Heart Companion: Preparation And Guidance for Open-heart Surgery Recovery  Author: Maggie Lichtenberg Date of review: 09/11/2008 This…