Heart and Lung Centre is 20 today!
Date of release: 4 October 2024
It’s caused sleepless nights, performed 18,000 cardiac surgeries and even seen relationships blossom into at least one marriage.
Staff celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Heart and Lung Centre today
Wolverhampton’s £60m Heart and Lung Centre at New Cross Hospital celebrates its 20th birthday today having become one of the leading centres for cardiac surgery in the country.
It was built because Wolverhampton and the Black Country had the lowest access rates for cardiac surgery in the West Midlands at the time.
The late Dennis Turner, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, campaigned for the funding to get the facility built, backed by a petition brought by the Wolverhampton Coronary Aftercare Support Care Group.
As one of the region’s four cardiac tertiary centres, it runs the largest cardiac surgery programme in the West Midlands, treating approximately 700 STEMIs (serious heart attacks, carrying greater risk) a year.
Two decades on, dozens of staff from The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) who were there for its opening still work there and celebrated its big birthday.
Dr Saib Khogali with Dr Mike Norell, as Lead on Cardiology and Mr Moninder Bhabra and Wilf Pugsley, from the Cardiothoracic surgical side, helped set up the Centre in October 2004.
Dr Norell, Interventional Lead, Dr Khogali and Professor Dr James Cotton, as the first appointed Interventionalists, established the Cardiology service.
“The establishment of the first purpose-built centre for cardiac services in the country was a great attraction to staff,” said Dr Norell.
“We spearheaded the development of Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDTs) working across the country and more importantly, we put the unit before ourselves.”
Dr Khogali said: “It’s been a privilege to help set it up. The unit developed as a highly collaborative and collegiate centre and has made great strides in putting Wolverhampton on the UK Cardiology map.
“Many other Cardiology sub specialities have been established and developed here since.”
Dr Stephen Billing, Cardiologist Surgeon, who met his wife of six years Antonella Meraglia at the centre more than a decade ago, celebrating the anniversary with cake.
Dr Cotton added: “All of us involved in its development are immensely proud of the unit, and in particular its positive impact on the patients of the Black Country.
“Countless Doctors, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals have been trained at the centre who now hold key posts across the UK.”
The only element of cardiac services the centre doesn’t perform is transplants.
Alex Ng was one of only two Consultant Anaesthetists in Cardiothoracic when the first two patients were operated on in October 2004, and has continued in the role.
Jo Hazle, 61, Sister in the Integrated Critical Care Unit (ICCU), travelled to the Philippines to recruit some 180 Nurses to work at the centre.
“It gave me many sleepless nights at the time because we also had responsibility for the procurement of the right equipment, but it all came good and it’s been massively successful,” said Jo, who insists she wouldn’t work anywhere else.
“Most of the staff have stayed here. It’s a massively supportive environment and very well-led.”
Staff development has been key to the centre’s continued success. Jo has enabled numerous Staff Nurses to be trained to be Advanced Critical Care Practitioners.
A recruit from the Philippines, Chitse Arias, 53, remains a long-time colleague of Jo’s in ICCU.
The mum of two was literally sent to Coventry to be trained in its cardiac centre, so she would be ready to work in the Heart and Lung Centre when it opened.
Other colleagues were trained at the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham, Stoke and Brighton.
Danny Pantaleon, Charge Nurse in Cardiology, had to be shown how to use a pelican crossing as part of the Philippines’ cultural adjustment after his arrival!
Italian Antonella Meraglia, 51, Consultant Anaesthetist, married Wolverhampton-born Dr Stephen Billing, 59, Consultant Cardiologist, six years ago, having met while working at the centre.
They made their first ‘public’ appearance as a couple at the centre’s 10th anniversary, and Stephen’s late father Cecil donated the baby grand piano in the Heart and Lung foyer.
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
