Astronaut Tim Peake launches new heart department at Evelina London

Patients and staff were over the moon when astronaut Tim Peake officially opened a new space-themed heart department at Evelina London Children's Hospital.  

The British astronaut visited Galaxy, the hospital's new cardiac outpatient department, which was given lift-off thanks to generous support from Evelina London Children's Charity.   

Specialist teams at Evelina London care for around 6,000 children and young people with heart conditions every year.

Like astronauts preparing for space travel, heart patients undergo an echocardiogram scan and a physiology test during their appointments to check how well their heart is working and how their body responds to exercise.

Tim saw first-hand some of the specialist care provided and met 11-year-old Wilf who was being monitored while pedalling a bike. He answered all of Wilf's interesting questions and confirmed that astronauts can't burp in space.

Patients and families have played an important role throughout the design of the department, including inspiring the artwork that brings the space theme to life.

Ben Hargreaves' drawing now features on the walls of the reception area after winning an art competition at the hospital. Ben, 12, said:

I drew an alien with two hearts because an alien would be clever enough to have a spare.

It was discovered during his mum's pregnancy scan that Ben had congenital heart block, a disorder of the heart's electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of heartbeats. He has a pacemaker and has undergone 4 heart surgeries at Evelina London since he was born – the first when he was just 24 hours old.

Ben said: "I've been coming to Evelina London for my whole life and always have a good experience. Seeing my artwork on the wall makes us smile when we come for an appointment, and it reminds me how lucky I am to have my pacemaker which is like a second heart." 

Tim, who was the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and the first Briton to perform a spacewalk, also spent time with children and families taking part in space-themed craft activities in the hospital atrium with the hospital's play team and the Royal Observatory. 

Among them was 17-year-old Dylan Matonga, who underwent a hernia surgery earlier that morning, and dreams of being an astronaut. He said:

When I heard Tim was visiting the hospital I was determined to get out of bed to meet him. For the longest time I have wanted to be an astronaut and to be the first on Mars.

 

"He told me how he became an astronaut and gave me advice on the things I can do in my career to achieve my goal."

Tim said: "It was such a special day meeting the incredible staff, children and their families at Evelina London, and was a real privilege to give the new Galaxy cardiac outpatient department its official lift-off.

I was truly inspired by the courage of the young patients and the extraordinary dedication of the teams caring for them.

 

I hope the department's space theme inspires young patients to dream big and believe that anything is possible.

Matron Rhian Lakhani said: "We were delighted to welcome Tim to Galaxy and introduce him to some of the children, families and staff who make Evelina London such a special place.

Our patients and staff have helped shape Galaxy from the very beginning, creating a child-friendly environment that is worlds away from a traditional hospital department.

"Their ideas and creativity can be seen throughout, and we hope it will make coming to hospital a little easier."

Executive director of Evelina London Children's Charity, Rob Halkyard, said: "We are thrilled to see this new outpatient department officially opened. It's a key step in the transformation of cardiac care at Evelina London, which we have supported with over £1m in funding.

"We are so grateful to all of our fundraisers and donors who have helped make Galaxy and the wider work a reality, and thanks especially to Tim Peake for bringing his star power to the occasion."