First Central Monitoring System at Royal Sussex County Hospital
Funded the installation of a central monitoring system on the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), enabling constant patient monitoring from a central station and improving patient care.
Building on a legacy of innovation and community impact, we have continually supported ground-breaking projects and initiatives that enhance heart health and save lives. This timeline showcases many of our achievements, made possible by the generosity and dedication of our supporters. While it provides an overview of our impact, it is not a comprehensive list. To explore more about our history and mission, visit our ‘Our Story’ page.
1990
1991
First Cardiac Rehabilitation Service in Sussex
The charity helped fund the county’s first cardiac rehabilitation service, a new and innovative concept in heart patient care, which was later fully funded by the NHS.
1992
First Cardiac Research Nurse in Sussex
Funded the first cardiac research nurse focused on survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims, leading to vital studies and improvements in patient survival. The research unit is now fully funded by the NHS and conducts ground-breaking studies.
1996
Funded Key Cardiac Equipment
£88,950 for an Echo Machine with colour display to aid in quicker, more precise diagnosis.
£6,471 for software upgrade for the Angio suite to expand cardiac investigations.
£47,710 for wireless monitoring equipment for the cardiac stepdown ward, allowing patients to move freely while being monitored.
Cardiac Resuscitation Training
Funded office space and equipment for the hospital resuscitation training department, providing crucial training to hospital staff.
£19,000 for equipment and space rental.
1997
Cardiac Research and Defibrillator Funding
£28,000 for setting up a cardiac research office and funding related projects.
£53,000 for 11 defibrillators across Sussex County Hospital, improving response time for heart emergencies.
£12,000 for a cardiac event recorder for patients to monitor their heart health at home.
Patient Education Materials
Created videos and leaflets to inform patients about heart health, including:
Angiography videos
Cardiac rehabilitation videos
Heart attack action leaflets and videos
1998
Expansion of Cardiac Equipment
£9,400 for 8 heart rhythm recording machines.
£9,330 for an ECG machine for the Coronary Care Unit.
£14,300 for an ECG machine and AED for Nuclear Medicine at RSCH.
£7,800 for refurbishing and renting the cardiac rehabilitation office.
Further Support for Cardiac Resuscitation and Research
£29,500 for continued support of the cardiac resuscitation training unit.
£5,000 for office furniture and equipment for the cardiac research team.
1999
Pioneering Patient Follow-Up System
Funded the first Patient Administration and Tracking System (PATS) for the Royal Sussex County Hospital, allowing for better patient follow-up and data management.
Cardiac Surgery Equipment and Staff Funding
£42,330 for an ECG archiving system upgrade.
£100,000 for electrophysiology testing equipment.
Funded various essential surgical equipment including a sternotomy saw, laptops for surgeons, and ECG machines.
2003
Funding Heart Failure Nurse Position
Supported the creation of a heart failure nurse position, now part of a team of five nurses fully funded by the NHS.
2005
Funding for Echo Machine
Helped fund half of a £120,000 echo machine, a critical piece of diagnostic equipment for the cardiology department, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation.
2011
AEDs and BLS Training at American Express Community Stadium
Funded 8 AEDs for the newly built American Express Community Stadium and provided ongoing basic life support (BLS) training for staff. Over 60 staff members have been trained in BLS and AED use.
2012
Nurse Consultant and Diabetic Research Nurse Funding
Part-funded the Royal Sussex County Hospital’s first nurse consultant post for one year.
Funded a diabetic research nurse for two years, screening heart patients for diabetes.
Support for Ground-breaking Cardiac Equipment and Systems
Funded equipment for cardiac ablation (EPS), optical coherence tomography, and the first paperless system in the Sussex Cardiac Department, streamlining operations and enhancing patient care.
2013
Expanding AED Access and Community Partnerships
Continuing support for AEDs, particularly in public spaces like sports stadiums, schools, or community centres.
Further development of partnerships with other health organisations or local businesses to increase community involvement and raise awareness of heart health.
2014
Supporting Precision in Coronary Artery Surgery
Funded the purchase of specialised diamond knives for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. These precision tools, designed to safely and accurately open fragile, calcified coronary arteries, were essential for treating an increasingly elderly and diabetic patient population. With sharpness lasting over 10,000 uses, the knives improved surgical outcomes and patient safety.
2015
Partnership with Southern Railway to Fund AEDs for Sussex Stations
The Sussex Heart Charity partnered with Southern Railway (GTR) and pledged £100,000 to fund 67 AED devices for stations across Sussex, enhancing public safety and ensuring rapid access to life-saving equipment in emergency situations.
2016
Investing in Advanced Clinical Practitioner Care at Sussex Cardiac Centre
In partnership with Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, the Sussex Heart Charity invested £500,000 to support the development of the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Programme at the Sussex Cardiac Centre. This investment helped make the SCC the first surgery unit in the country to transition to a stand-alone Advanced Clinical Practitioner care service, enhancing patient care and clinical outcomes.
2018
Support for the ERAS Programme
The Sussex Heart Charity pledged £36,000 to support the launch of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programme at the Sussex Cardiac Centre. The programme aimed to improve recovery times, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce hospital stays. It has since expanded and continues to support patients through its successful recovery model.
2019
Funding Publicly Accessible AEDs in Partnership with Cllr Joss Loader
The Sussex Heart Charity partnered with Councillor Joss Loader to fund publicly accessible AEDs in Lancing. This initiative aimed to increase the availability of life-saving defibrillators in the community, improving emergency cardiac care for local residents.
Supporting Cardiac Rehabilitation During COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of in-person cardiac rehabilitation sessions, the Sussex Heart Charity funded the Heart Manual to enable patients to continue their rehabilitation at home. This initiative ensured that heart patients could maintain their recovery despite lockdowns and restrictions on face-to-face meetings.
2020-2021
Ongoing Support for Cardiac Rehab and Patient Information Revamp
The Sussex Heart Charity continued supporting cardiac rehabilitation services during the pandemic, ensuring patients had access to essential care.
The charity also undertook a comprehensive review of its patient information booklets, which were published online for the first time, improving accessibility for heart patients.
2023
King’s Award for Voluntary Service
The Sussex Heart Charity was awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, equivalent to an MBE. This recognition highlights the invaluable contributions of our volunteers in supporting heart patients and the local community.
2024
Launch of Rescue Ready and Cardiac Rehab Enhancement Fund
The Sussex Heart Charity launched Rescue Ready, a community-focused programme providing Basic Life Support and AED Familiarisation sessions across East and West Sussex. This initiative aims to improve emergency response capabilities and raise awareness of life-saving techniques.
The Cardiac Rehab Enhancement Fund was introduced to offer quick and accessible funding for smaller cardiac rehabilitation projects. This initiative helps support local cardiac rehab services, ensuring timely assistance to enhance heart patient care across the region.