SHEFFIELD OPEN HEART CLUB
SHOC
The primary aim of Sheffield Open Heart Club is:
- To provide peer support and share experience of recovery with cardiac patients in the Chesterman Wards of the Northern General Hospital (NGH) Sheffield, prior to heart surgery
- To be available for their relatives and friends requiring support and information
- To provide specific items for the Chesterman Wing the cardiac unit at NGH for the benefit of patients.
HISTORY
Sheffield Open Heart Club (SHOC) was started in 1984 by patients, relatives and hospital staff at a time when there was very little support for heart patients’ post-surgery.
It has an active volunteer team who have all been through heart surgery and can speak from a patient perspective and relative point of view.
There are occasional social gatherings; it also makes small specific donations to the Cardiac Unit at the hospital.
SHOC has been a registered charity since 1987
Membership
Membership is open to all patients who have undergone open heart surgery. Most members have had heart surgery at the Northern General Hospital and live in Sheffield and the surrounding districts of Barnsley, Rotherham, Chesterfield and Doncaster.
Members join for different reasons: -
- for support and friendship,
- to become involved as a SHOC volunteer or/and a committee member,
- to join in with the occasional social events and to keep in touch by receiving the periodic newsletter.
- All members are welcome.
Membership is £5 per annum payable by Bank Transfer, Standing Order or Cheque
volunteer team
A number of members join SHOC to become part of the SHOC Volunteers Team. have all been through heart surgery and are in a good position to speak about things from a patient perspective.
SHOC Volunteers visit patients on the Chesterman Unit prior to heart surgery to share their experience and answer questions about their both their surgery and recovery, helping to allay patients’ fears.
Some of the volunteers attend the Pre- surgery Information Sessions at the hospital as well as visit on the wards. They respond to patient/relative questions about ‘what it was like for them’. SHOC Volunteers ward visiting rota is organised by Volunteer Coordinator who is on hand for day-to-day support and practicalities.
All SHOC volunteers receive regular guidance support from professional staff working within Chesterman Wing and SHOC is also a partnership organisation to the Hospital Trust Volunteer Service.
There is a telephone link via the Volunteer Coordinator for people waiting for or who’ve had heart surgery. Anyone wishing to talk to a volunteer should email ……