'A Moment For Your Heart'

On Friday February 25, 2011, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, Colchester United player, Sam Corcoran and attendees at the Colchester Connected Oyster Business Awards, took 'a moment for their hearts' by having their blood pressure tested by nurses form Ramsay Health Care.

On hand to talk to the attendees and offer advice were Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Allan Harkness, and Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mr Inderpaul Birdi. Dr Harkness is a Consultant at the Oaks Hospital and the Orwell Cardiothoracic Unit, whilst Mr Birdi, who specialises in minimally invasive cardiac surgery is based at the Orwell Private Cardiothoracic Unit in Basildon.

What Dr Harkness said:

"I was very pleased so many business men and women took up the offer to have their blood pressure measured. We were surprised to find a large number did, indeed, have high blood pressure and they have all be encouraged to see their GPs for further checks. We hope this brief intervention will encourage a greater awareness of the value of health checks in the future."

Mr Birdi met with many of the attendees and spent some time describing the structure of the heart to midfielder Sam Corcoran.

What Mr Birdi said:

"I was surprised to meet so many, health conscious, individuals who, despite high levels of awareness, still overlooked the importance of screening for abnormalities such as high blood pressure. Early diagnosis and treatment can prolong life and I sincerely hope the intervention of the team from Ramsay Health Care today served to promote this message."

Indeed one business man is extremely grateful to Ramsay. Having been informed his blood pressure was rather high, he visited his GP who put him immediately on to medication and said we had, most probably, saved his life.