A-A Welcomes . . . .

Joanna Goldberg: Projects and Campaigns Co-ordinator, joined Arrhythmia Alliance at the end of September. “I am lucky to be joining A-A at such a time when we have an exciting new team to pursue new projects and avenues of research. We have already started preparing for Awareness Week 2009 and I am eager to learn and see how this event will propel the work of A-A to new heights”.

Jo Burke: I have recently been recruited to AA to manage the national AED campaign ‘Restart the Heart’. I have a background in politics and social policy with experience of managing campaigns and projects for the voluntary sector. I am looking forward to working with individuals and groups to facilitate the placement of life-saving AEDs in the community. If you would like more information about Restart the Heart, please contact me at campaigns@stars.org.uk

Ben Fry: Having just graduated from Leeds University, I have recently joined the team here at Arrhythmia Alliance as the new Affiliates Officer. I am managing all new and existing affiliates of Arrhythmia Alliance and would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new support groups;
UPBEAT Heart Support, Suffolk - www.upbeatheartsupport.org.uk
HeartBeat ICD Support Group, East Suffolk - www.heartbeat.eastsuffolk.btinternet.co.uk
Is your ICD/Pacemaker/Heart Support Group affiliated to Arrhythmia Alliance? To find out about the benefits of affiliation with Arrhythmia Alliance visit www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk or
please contact development@stars.org.uk. I look forward to working with you in the future.

A-A Announces Ireland  Regional Meeting Date!

These meetings are aimed at all those involved in providing a service and care of patients with cardiac arrhythmias including... clinicians, GPs, cardiac networks, arrhythmia nurses, industry members, charitable organisations, patient groups.
Email: events@stars.org.uk or visit www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk to register.

Patient & Carer ICD Information Day

The Cardiac Rhythm Management team at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is pleased to announce the next Patient and Carer ICD information day. This will be held in lecture theatre 1 at the John Radcliffe on Monday 1st December. Speakers include Dr Kim Rajappan who will be talking about ICDs for people without coronary artery disease and Dr Dianne Sanders who will discuss managing fears and anxieties.
Lunch is provided and the meeting is sponsored by St Jude Medical. If you would like to book a place at the meeting, please contact Elaine Watson, ICD Nurse Specialist on Elaine.watson@orh.nhs.uk
There is no charge and you are welcome to bring a partner.

Restart the Heart

Arrhythmia Alliance is running a national campaign to place AEDs in every local community. We promote placement of AEDs in public places with 24hr access so that the life saving equipment is available to everyone whenever it is needed. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere… An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is the only way to restart the heart. Can your community risk not having one?
If you would like to help us to help you Restart the Heart in your community please visit www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk

Is Your Community Heart Safe?

As part of its Restart the Heart campaign, A-A is undertaking a fact-finding exercise to discover which communities have public access to AEDs and whether they are available 24hrs a day? Any information you are able to provide would be most useful, please follow the link to complete our online survey www.heartrhythmcharity.org.uk

Community Launches

Following the success of the Chew Valley Restart the Heart initiative – where 15 AEDs were placed in green cabinets, outdoors in local villages - several more communities are keen to follow suit and have started fund-raising. Keynsham is unveiling its community AED with a launch on 21 st November 2008 at the local Fire Station; all are welcome to attend the event. For more details on this launch and other upcoming projects please contact campaigns@stars.org.uk

Know Your Pulse . . .

Details about the events of the week and how you can get involved will be forthcoming.  For further info email either Joanna Goldberg - joannag@stars.org.uk or
Mary Rustic - mary@stars.org.uk

Arrhythmia Alliances's Head of Fundraising meets James Bond!

Barbara Hampel, AA Head of Fundraising, was invited to meet Sir Roger Moore when he was in Cheltenham to sign copies of his autobiography. 

Cardiovascular Diseases Specialist Library

The Annual Evidence update on Heart Failure for 2008 has just been launched. We have brought together a panel of experts (Professor David Thompson, Professor Jonathan Mant, and Dr Michael Davies) chaired by Professor Tom Quinn, to review high quality evidence published since last year's successful update.

This is now available for viewing. Click here to find out more.

Worry in Patients with Internal Cardiac Defibrillators

This research focuses on people who have an Internal Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD). The purpose behind the study is to find out if people with an ICD worry and how they manage their worrying thoughts.
Your answers will be completely confidential and anonymous. You do not need to provide any personal information so feel free to be completely honest!
With the results of this questionnaire we hope to be able to help others cope better with the experience of having an ICD. By giving us true and accurate answers, you can help us achieve this aim.
Click here to find out more, or alternatively email Dr Gill Hebb for further information.
Dr Gill S Hebb, Clinical Psychologist in Training, Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Email: mdgsh@leeds.ac.uk

A Celebration of Christmas in Music Wine and Verse . . .

. . . will take place in St James's Parish Church , Chipping Campden on Sunday evening December 14th. Actors and Musicians will give their services in aid of The Arrhythmia Heart Rhythm Charity, and the concert is organised and will be presented by Barbara Hampel, Head of Fundraising....

Tickets priced at £10 will be on sale by mid November. Those interested in booking please telephone Barbara on: 01386-430274

Share Your Story

Case studies written by patients help to let other AF patients know they are not alone. It also shares information and helps AFA raise awareness of the debilitating affect AF can have on a patient's life. If you would like to share your case story, no full names or contact details are disclosed, then please email:
info@atrial-fibrillation.org.uk for further information.

The Christmas Bear which helps AFA

AFA have cuddly teddy bears ready to be posted out in time for Christmas. Bring a smile to someone's face while helping to fund raise for AFA.

Email Jo: info@atrial-fibrillation.org.uk for further details

Annual Health Check Performance Ratings Published!

Healthcare Commission has published the third annual health check performance ratings for NHS trusts in England . They show major improvements in performance with trusts improving the quality of services and managing money more effectively.

SAVE THE DATE - Arrhythmia Alliance Awareness Week:
8th - 14th June 2009

Our crusade continues – Join our campaign for public awareness. 
Two new important themes are adding to the focus of Arrhythmia Alliance Awareness Week 2009 . . . . “Know Your Pulse” and “Restart the Heart”.