Up The Pace 2014

The paediatric cardiac team recently held its fifth Up the Pace event at the MShed in Bristol. The event aims to help young patients and their families understand more about life with a pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator.

The event was developed after the team discovered that, while there was plenty of support for adult patients with an Implantable Defibrillator, there wasn't much for children. The team felt this was something they could help with, and so sent out a questionnaire to patients, including those with pacemakers, to find out what people's perceptions of pacemakers were.

The results suggested to the team there was a lack of information about ICDs and pacemakers for young people, and that some sort of event to address this could be a good idea.

The goal is to invite patients and their families to join us on a fun and (hopefully) educational day.  Each year we cover different issues in the hope of answering patients' and families' questions or worries. 

The event is run by NHS staff, who volunteer their time. Medical device companies donate funding, and many have a stand at the venue to give out information regarding their devices. One company even brought a Perspex heart that visitors can 'implant' their own pacemaker into!

Each year, the team develops the workshops to keep the attendees entertained, but also ensuring they learn something about their or siblings' device. They listen to comments from patients throughout the year to find out what they really want to know about.  The attendees are split into 3 groups, five-11 year olds, 12-18 year olds and adults.

Topics covered have included resuscitation, how a device is implanted, exercise and everyday living, and each session is tailored for age-appropriate content. Last year, a vet who specialises in implanting pacemaker devices into dogs attended, which meant there were several dogs running around! The attendees loved it (and the staff!). 

This year, the event took place in a different setting, away from the hospital.  Up the Pace was held at the MShed museum in Bristol.  It was a beautiful day and the attendees really liked the venue.  Clare Elsley, a silver medallist in netball for England, attended as a guest speaker. She has had a pacemaker implanted and is still competing internationally. She talked about physical activity and healthy living with a pacemaker, and that it isn't the end of the world. The team from BBC Points West came along to cover the event, and interviewed Clare Elsely and Dr Graham Stuart.

The team is really proud of what has been achieved through Up The Pace, and hopes that through raising awareness, they can continue and expand the event more widely still in future.