Our 10th October meeting heard from club member Roderick Skinner about the work of GUCHPA - of which organisation Roderick is a Trustee. Grown Up Congenital Heart Patients Association is a group that would not exist, were it not for the often-astonishing medical advances made in the treatment of congenital heart conditions.

Not so many years ago babies born with such conditions would have had little chance of survival – or at best perhaps to early childhood. But how different now, when heart valves can be replaced, plastic tubes fitted and displaced hearts dealt with - so effectively that people can expect a normal lifespan.

But extra care is often needed throughout that lifetime. Repeated surgery may be needed as a person grows and outgrows valves for example, lifelong medication required, access to oxygen supplies, special travel insurance, help to cope with physical scarring and physical strength may be lacking.

These and many other factors are what GUCHPA exists to help with –  in their own words ‘Supporting Young People and Adults with Congenital Heart Disease’

It is a charity funded by the British Heart Foundation as well as by local fundraising and, as well as working within the UK, has strong links across Europe and indeed to many other parts of the world. 

If you would like to find out more about the work of GUCHPA they have a website at (http://www.guch.org.uk).