Epsom heart doctor backs bid for new equipment (From Your Local Guardian)

Epsom heart doctor backs bid for new equipment

12:35pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Epsom By Lauren May

A children’s heart doctor and the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund (EMEF) has launched a campaign to raise £50,000 for a new life saving machine.

Dr Adam Carter, consultant paediatrician at Epsom Hospital, hopes to raise enough money for an echocardiogram, a machine designed especially for children which uses sound waves to build a picture of the heart to diagnose life threatening conditions faster.

Dr Carter said: "We’ll be able to capture and store incredibly detailed images of a child’s beating heart faster than ever before meaning that we will be able to see additional patients, and may save them travelling further afield for tests.

"Of course, we already have an echocardiogram machine which records images using VHS tape, but we are very keen to get the very latest digital model for our clinic.

"If you would like to help with our fundraising whether you are able to give a penny or a pound, every donation is very, very welcome."

The EMEF is selling red ‘I love my hospital’ heart badges for a minimum donation of £1 to help raise money for the £50,000 machine.

You can buy a badge from the EMEF shop in Wells Wing at Epsom Hospital on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday afternoon, or from the A&E department.

The badges will be on sale from a stand at the Ashley Centre on Saturday, February 18, from noon to 4pm.

You can also buy one from the National Counties Building Society in Ashley Square in Epsom and from Epsom and Ewell Council in the Town Hall on The Parade.

For more information call the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund co-ordinator Bess Harding on 020 8337 8181.