Contact Info

North West, North Wales & The Isle of Man Congenital Heart Disease Network, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Email:

northwestchdnetwork@alderhey.nhs.uk

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📢 Are you interested in joining the NW CHD Network Patient &Public Voice Group or just want to know more about the excellent work they do? Join our informal information session via Teams on 09/09/26 #chd #ACHD #paediatriccardiology ❤️❤️❤️

https://www.northwestchdnetwork.nhs.uk/all-about-our-patient-and-public-voice-group-ppv/

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Empowering hearts globally (EHG) launches their first 'Fundamentals in pediatric & congenital cardiology' boot camp!
A comprehensive 4-week online course designed to build practical knowledge & clinical confidence in pediatric cardiology. 
Find out more: https://empoweringheartsglobally.org/2026-fundamentals-course/

Our private online communities offer support for people affected by CHD:

❤️ Somerville ACHD Patient Group 1 – for CHD patients
❤️ Heart Families – for family, friends and carers

Join or become a member for free: https://sfhearts.org.uk/sign-up/

News

David

I’m David, a 51-year-old ACHD patient from the Wirral. I’ve been married to Clare for 25 years and we have 3 daughters – one aged 24 and 18 year old twins.

I was born with a hole in the heart (Ventricular Septal Defect) and had my first operation in 1974 aged 15 months. Apart from annual checks up, I lived a normal life until my mid 30’s when I had my second open heart surgery in 2009 at LHCH – Right Ventricular Outflow Tract reconstruction. Post surgery I suffered electrical issues with my heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) and spent the summer of 2009 in Manchester Royal Infirmary receiving treatment including several ablations and cardio versions.

I started to suffer symptoms of heart failure from 2018 and had my third surgery to replace the tricuspid value and insert a pacemaker in 2021. In September 2024 I was admitted into LHCH and diagnosed with endocarditis and needed another open-heart surgery to replace the tricuspid value and pacemaker. I spent 4 months being treated pre-and post-surgery in LHCH and am grateful for all the help and support provided by the ACHD team.

Balancing working full time as an HR/Communications professional for companies like Unilever and Bank of America and handling my symptoms has not been easy. Following the latest surgery, I’ve made a number of life choices in order to spend more time with my family and focus on my wellbeing. Since my most recent hospital stay I have been looking for a way to help other patients/families given my experiences and this is why I joined the Patient and Public Voice group.

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