Sheffield Open Heart Club (SHOC) is a support group for heart surgery patients and their families. It 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 was set up to provide befriending and information support to cardiac patients undergoing heart surgery at the Northern General Hospital Sheffield. It has an active volunteer team and has occasional social gatherings. It also makes small specific donations to the Cardiac Unit (Chesterman Wing) at the Northern General hospital. SHOC became a registered charity in 1987 and is affiliated to the British Heart Foundation.
