Wessex Heartbeat

In essence our vision and mission are one:

That everyone affected by heart conditions receives the best possible support. 

• Promoting positive perception of people with heart conditions
• Being the best possible support for patients and their families
• Being the best possible support to staff
• Being recognised as best in field 
• Our VISION achieved through our VALUES  
• Be of service through individual commitment
• Show a caring, empathic, compassionate approach
• Integrity and Stewardship in safe hands

Cardiovascular disease causes nearly 40% of all deaths annually in the UK. This sadly means that at some time, most of us will be affected by this disease whether it is ourselves, our loved ones or our colleagues.

Established in 1992, Wessex Heartbeat is one of the region's major charities and exists to support the work of the Wessex Cardiac Centre (WCC), one of the UK's leading heart treatment centres. Since 1992, the generosity of our supporters at all levels has enabled Wessex Heartbeat to raise over £11m which we have used to help ensure that the best possible care is provided to more than 20,000 patients treated at the centre each year.

"Your Healthy Heart" Campaign:

Please help us to help you...

Wessex Heartbeat Charity have launched a new initiative called ‘Your Healthy Heart' aimed at supporting the health of the community throughout the Wessex region. We are visiting both companies and communities to offer blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing (both of which are silent killers), blood glucose and body mass index checks.

"It is my vision that everyone affected by heart conditions receive the best possible support. However, prevention is better than cure and if we are able to highlight these risk factors earlier on through running this initiative, then I would consider that we have made significant progress towards achieving that goal" explains D'Arcy Myers, CEO of Wessex Heartbeat Charity.

To start off the initiative, D'Arcy has had a ‘Your Healthy Heart' advisory session.

"I'm relieved by the results. I already know that I am overweight and have to do something about it. What I suspected, or rather dreaded, was that either my blood pressure or cholesterol would be high. Fortunately both my blood pressure and cholesterol are fine and so is my blood glucose. I need to address my BMI reading and therefore have purchased a pedometer so I can encourage myself with a high step count!"

We would like to invite YOUR COMPANY to take part.

What does it involve?
The 'Your Healthy Heart' session will follow this general format, but can be changed to fit in with your workplace arrangements and time available:

D'Arcy Myers, the CEO of Wessex Heartbeat, will present a brief introduction to the charity and 'Your Healthy Heart'.

A short presentation from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Sisters from the Southampton General Hospital on what having a healthy heart means, and the effects of not looking after your heart, including a question and answer session.

Our Cardiac Nurses can offer your employees the following health checks:

• Blood Pressure
• Body Mass Index
• Blood Glucose
• Cholesterol

Each employee tested will receive a card with all their results recorded and the nurses will provide them with information on staying healthy, and advisory leaflets based on their results. If there are any concerns, the participant is advised to visit their GP.

To see photos of previous "Your Healthy Heart" visits, please visit our Companies Taking Part page and to read about our competition winner, Linda Lawless, see Communities Taking Part.

How long will it take?
As a guide, allow about 10 minutes per employee.

How do I book a 'Your Healthy Heart' session?

To request a visit from the Wessex Heartbeat team or for more information, please contact Melody Carter on 02380 795927 or at melody@heartbeat.org.uk. For available dates, please visit our website.

To see how D'Arcy is progressing with his new exercise plan, visit http://ceoatlarge.blogspot.com  

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