Welcome to the ECHO website
ECHO supports children who are treated at the Evelina Children’s Hospital (and at clinics held at local District General Hospitals visited by Cardiologists from the Evelina), principally for Congenital Heart Defects, as well as their parents/carers and close family. We provide information, friendship and moral support at times when parents feel alone, isolated and desperate, or when they have immediate worries and concerns and need guidance or advice. We also support and befriend the children themselves as they grow into their teenage years and beyond, to help them take the first steps towards independence in their lives and in their attitude towards their heart condition. Our advocacy provides vital patient voice to help Guy’s & St Thomas’s NHS Trust shape its services for congenital heart disease.
ECHO Today
CHILDREN’S HEART WEEK 2010
ECHO is planning a campaign to raise awareness and funds during Children’s Heart Week 2010, which will take place from May 8th to May 16th inclusive. Click here to find out more and to get involved!
COUGHS AND COLDS IN CHILDREN WITH HEART CONDITIONS
Following our request for some written guidance from the hospital, Dr. Aaron Bell, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, has written an article which gives comprehensive advice about coughs and colds in children with heart conditions. Please click here.
IMPORTANT FLU AND WINTER VIRUS ADVICE
We have received up-to-date information and guidance from the Evelina Children’s Hospital about the seasonal flu and swine flu vaccination programme for this autumn/winter season. Please click here for full document.
SWINE FLU
UPDATED INFORMATION FROM THE EVELINA HOSPITAL AVAILABLE NOW – PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Autumn Newsletter
Please click here to view our latest newsletter.
Sports for Heart Children
Lynne Kendall, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Congenital Cardiology, from Leeds General Infirmary, who is one of this country’s foremost experts in Sports for Heart Children, gave a fascinating and highly informative presentation on the subject at our recent Conference. Please click here to find out more.
GUCH PA (”Grown Up Congenital Heart Patients Association”) has recently published a series of comic strips aimed at young people with Heart Conditions dealing with issues with affect them most. To download a copy, please click on this link: http://www.guch.org.uk/4teens/comicbooks
New Online Gallery
Take a look at our new online Gallery of photos, which will eventually contain pictures from ECHO parties, events and images that families have submitted. If you’d like to include a photo of your heart-child and/or siblings, please forward to: admin@echo-evelina.org.uk.
If you are doing a sponsored event to raise funds for ECHO, why not make life easy for yourself and create your own fundraising page at www.Justgiving.com. Log on and follow the simple instructions.
Did you know you can donate money to ECHO every time you shop online, at no extra cost to you?
Please click here for more details.
News
Corience is a European initiative, partly funded and wholeheartedly supported by the E.E.C., and brings together support groups from all over Europe, such as Sweden, Norway, Germany, Spain, and of course the UK. It is an independent platform on congenital heart defects for patients, parents, doctors and scientists. It contains lots of very good information, not only from the UK but all over Europe and will be constantly updated. Why not take a look at www.corience.org.
Congenital Cardiac Audit Database website
All hospitals which perform surgery and other invasive procedures on children with heart conditions are required to submit data every year for inclusion in a UK-wide database. This database is known as the Congenital Cardiac Audit Database (CCAD), and analysis of this information allows individual hospitals and doctors to compare outcomes which should enable good or poor practice to be identified and appropriate action taken. Please click here to find out more.
Parent’s Stories
Case Studies written by parents about their own experiences.
Please click here to read more.
2010 London Marathon
ECHO has 8 guaranteed places in the 2010 London Marathon. If you would like to be considered for one of these sought-after places, please contact Jessica on admin@echo-evelina.org.uk.
ECHO Launches DVD for parents
ECHO has produced a DVD, entitled “Living with Congenital Heart Disease” which is available through the ECHO office or through the Evelina Children’s Hospital.
Please click here to read more.
Events
We have a fantastic range of ECHO events for adults and children! Our events page is updated regularly, so please keep visiting to see what’s happening in and around your area!
Last chance ever to abseil down Guy’s Tower!
Are you stuck in your comfort zone? Would you like a huge challenge in 2010? Then abseil 450ft down Guy’s tower and raise money for ECHO at the same time on Saturday 15th May 2010. Click here for more information.
London Marathon and the adidas Women’s 5K Challenge
We always have a team of runners in the London Marathon and the adidas Women’s 5K challenge each year. Click here for more information.
