Hospital open day’s a breath of fresh air

Visitors attend heart and lung research open

HAREFIELD Hospital opened its doors to scores of visitors who could step into a surgeon’s shoes.

Members of the local community, patients and pupils from Bishop Ramsey school and Harefield Academy went along to the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust’s fifth annual heart and lung research open day.

Visitors got to see how surgery is performed with a pop-up operating theatre and met leading medical experts at Harefield Hospital as part of a programme of centenary celebrations.

Julia Coffey, public involvement co-ordinator for heart research at the trust, said: “This year’s research open day was a great success.

“It was great to see how engaged visitors were with all the demonstrations and hands-on activities taking place.

“They were fascinated by the artificially-breathing lungs and enjoyed finding out about advances in heart and lung transplant in our pop-up surgery.”

The day included a wide range of activities, stands and round-table discussions as well as demonstrations.

Ms Coffey added: “It is hugely valuable for us to hear feedback from the public about our heart and lung research and helps us to make it even better.”

The research open day took place from 11.30am until 2.30pm on Wednesday, June 17.