Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the Bristol Heart Institute
BHI
Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the BHI. On Thursday 12th February, former patient of the Bristol cardiac services and intrepid explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes raised a glass to the new Bristol Heart Institute.
Sir Ranulph had a double heart bypass in 2003 after suffering a heart attack while sitting in an aircraft at Bristol airport. During the operation at the Bristol Royal Infirmary his heart had to be restarted 13 times. He then went on to run seven marathons in seven continents in seven days.
Following a two and half year building programme the Bristol Heart Institute is due to open summer 2009. To celebrate, the Above & Beyond Charities’ Heart of Bristol Appeal hosted a Champagne Reception in this amazing new facility, before it’s unveiled to its patients and public.
The event was organised to help raise money towards the final £100,000 needed to reach the Heart of Bristol Appeal’s £800,000 target and was the first opportunity for members of the public to see this exciting new building. Guests were able to tour the new building and see many of the clinical spaces before they become operational.
The new institute will be a centre of excellence for cardiology care to the local population of central and south Bristol and will provide specialised cardiothoracic care to patients across the southwest of England.
Andrew Monk, Assistant Director of Above & Beyond said, “We were delighted that Sir Ranulph agreed to join us for this auspicious occasion. It is still five months to go before the building is operational but you can already get a good appreciation of quite how fantastic this new facility will be."
