The South Cleveland Heart Fund was founded by Dr Adrian Davies in late 1994 being formally registered in early 1995, in order to raise funds LOCALLY to support the newly formed Cardiothoracic unit at the then South Cleveland Hospital (now The James Cook University Hospital). So far it has raised well over £3.5 million to support all aspects of Cardiothoracic Services and their expansion to what it is today! We provide additional Equipment, training and research monies not available through routine NHS funding.

The SCHF is made up of a Committee of volunteers who meet regularly , chaired by Dr Adrian Davies, the Consultant Cardiologist (now retired, who set up the Unit) and to which all Cardiothoracic Unit Staff and new members are most welcome.

Fund raising events are planned and agreed at the meetings, as well as the running of the weekly Stall at JCUH, selling our branded products, and gifted items such as baby clothes, woollens, DVDs, books etc.

Our funds are carefully Managed by our Treasurer, Mr Keith Robson (retired Accountant) and submitted requests for funding from all parts of the Cardiothoracic Unit are discussed and carefully assessed before approval. Complying with Statute, our accounts are examined annually by Mike Beeforth, Chartered Accountant of S V Bye, Guisborough, and filed with the Charities Commission, where they are available for public inspection.

The Cardiothoracic Unit at James Cook is now acknowledged to be one of the best in the country. In the last year It carried out around 3000 angiograms, 1,700 Coronary Angioplasty interventions, 60 TAVIs (Transcutaneous Aortic Valve Implantation which we pump-primed to set up the service) over 300 electrical Ablations, and 900 implantable devices, as well as 1300 open heart operations, and over 500 lung operations. Tests on patients using equipment include 15,245 echocardiograms & 16,611 ECGs often with equipment we have funded. The interventional cardiologists who perform all Angioplasties in the unit pioneered Primary Angioplasty (for acute heart attacks) and reduced the death rate for those patients brought in within 12 hours of onset of the heart attack by 50%. This procedure is now adopted throughout the country in all major centres.

It is to support the work of this excellent Unit in every way possible that The South Cleveland Heart Fund raises money - through Donations and Covenants (Gift Aided when possible), Legacies , and special events - such as the forthcoming 30th Anniversary Celebration of the SCHF, taking place at Gisborough Hall on the 14th February 2025.

We work to keep the Unit at the leading edge of advances, to continue to offer the best in Heart Care to the 1.6 Million people it serves.