Norfolk Zipper Club boost for Papworth

SARAH BREALEY
28 November 2009 12:19



Members of a Norfolk support group for people who are facing heart surgery have raised money for vital medical equipment.

The Norfolk Zipper Club was set up by people who had been through heart surgery so that they could offer advice and support to those about to go through similar experiences. They also hold fundraising events to buy equipment for Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, which is the region's specialist heart hospital. They have raised £900,000 since the club was set up in 1982.

Their latest purchase is two blood gas analysers costing around £24,000. These machines are used to test oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood of patients during surgery or in intensive care. This means that blood gas results are available immediately, while previously blood samples would have been sent to the laboratory for testing.

John Fiddy, chairman of the Norfolk Zipper Club, who lives in Horsham St Faith, near Norwich, said: “Our members have all undergone cardiac surgery themselves and our main aim is to offer advice and support to those about to undergo similar experiences. However, we do also hold many fundraising events each year and are delighted to be able to hand over this latest purchase to Papworth Hospital.”

Stephen Bridge, chief executive of Papworth Hospital, said: “We are enormously grateful to the members of the Norfolk Zipper Club who work so tirelessly in their support of Papworth Hospital. The way that they continually raise such substantial funds to benefit our patients, year and after year, is just amazing.”

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