Dr Patel has been a well loved consultant at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for many years, and in 2014 finally retired ….. for the last time. This is what he says about the Children’s Heart Association.
It is with great pride and honour that I accept being a patron of the Chilldren’s Heart Association. I have been fortunate to see this Association being formed in Manchester and Liverpool. The parents of children with heart disorders have found great help from the CHA in understanding what is involved in looking after often very sick children. The support is excellent in times of great need and over the years, it has provided education and the establishment of clinical liasion nurses who provide emotional support, in addition to knowledge for parents and children. The Association has fought hard to keep the cardiac services up to date in various centres.
My training in paediatric was as a senior registrar in Birmingham and Great Ormond Street. I was a senior fellow in Toronto and was subsequently appointed as Staff Cardiologist before taking up the post of consultant in Manchester. My training adult cardiology was at National Heart Hospital, London. I have been an interventional paediatric cardiologist in Manchester and Liverpool. I also have an interest in echocardiography.
It has been most gratifying to see all sick babies and children grow up with their heart conditions after successful intervention or surgery. The bond with parents has always been a priority of mine.
Dr Raman G Patel MBBS, FRCP, FRCPCH