Congenital heart charity The Somerville Foundation held its annual conference at Royal Brompton Hospital.
More than 120 delegates from across the UK attended the event and one travelled from Canada. The event was designed to bring people with congenital heart conditions together to share their experiences and provide them with a range of expert information, including treatments and future models of care.
It was supported by leading members of the Trust’s congenital heart team led by Professor Michael Gatzoulis and included talks by Drs Natali Chung and Harith Alam, consultant cardiologists at Guy’s and St Thomas’.
Opening the conference, new Trust patient governor Paul Murray, said: “Having The Somerville Foundation at Royal Brompton Hospital brings two organisations that are so close to my heart, metaphorically and literally, together.
“If you’re able to meet people with the same conditions, or who face similar issues, it’s beneficial. I have attended Harefield and Royal Brompton for 47 of my 50 years. I’ve benefited from the fantastic care they provide and their adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) unit is cited as the most influential in the world.”
Speakers from Royal Brompton Hospital included Professor Gatzoulis, Dr Kostas Dimopoulos, consultant cardiologist, Richard Grocott-Mason, medical director and consultant cardiologist, Lynda Shaughnessy, clinical nurse specialist in ACHD, Professor Wei Li, consultant in echocardiography, and Professor Alain Fraisse, consultant and director of paediatric cardiology.