The Hridayam Foundation, a UK based charity, focusses its efforts in Bihar, India. The large number of inhabitants of this impoverished state, especially the poor and those from rural areas, have limited access to specialist opinion and healthcare in general. The charity diagnoses, treats and provides educational support relating to cardiac health. In the UK these are covered under the NHS. Unfortunately this is not available to all people in Bihar with heart disease, which often strikes them at a very young age, and patients may have to travel thousands of kilometers to receive the care they need.

Patients can be adopted for life in order to receive medical treatment free of charge and the charity relies upon skilled volunteers in order to provide this service. The volunteers include consultants, pharmacists, cardiac physiologists and non-medical support staff that are vital to the everyday running of The Foundation. Among other things, The Foundation runs a state of the art Anticoagulation Clinic, which is the first of its kind in India.

As a Specialised Cardiac Physiologist in the NHS I have been selected as the International Fellow for Spring 2019. This means I will be travelling to Bihar, India to volunteer my skills. My time will predominantly be spent performing echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart) and providing educational support including giving presentations at a local medical school and a specialised regional meeting. Any money raised via this page will go towards the return flights from the UK to India and any excess money raised will go directly to The Hridayam Foundation to contribute to their amazing efforts.

Please visit www.hridayamfoundation.com for more information.

Thank you in advance for your support. Any donations are gratefully received.

Best wishes

Emma