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WELLCOME COLLECTION STAGES FIRST
EVER PUBLIC BROADCAST OF LIVE SURGERY FROM UK HOSPITAL Press invitation: There are limited places for press to attend the event. To book your place please contact Will Kallaway or Jo Williamson on 020 7221 7883 or email will.kallaway@kallaway.co.uk. The broadcast will feature heart surgeon Francis Wells and the team at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge performing open-heart surgery. The satellite link will allow the audience in London to question the surgical team as they carry out the complex reconstruction of a heart valve. During the evening the audience of 220 people will be able to inspect at close quarters some of the equipment used in the operation guided by members of the Papworth Hospital medical team and heart surgeon Sam Nashef. The event will provide insight into the impact surgery will have on a patient's life, and why preserving the natural heart valve, rather than replacing it with an artificial one, allows the heart to function more efficiently. The event is linked to Wellcome Collection's Heart exhibition and is run collaboration with Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The event is fully booked and is part of Wellcome Collection's public events programme which includes events ranging from Islam and medicine through to a two day symposium exploring the concept of emotions. Full event listings at: www.wellcomecollection.org/exhibitionsandevents/events/index.asp Francis Wells, heart surgeon at Papworth Hospital said: "This interactive broadcast is an opportunity to demystify surgery and encourage more people to understand the magnitude of what the heart is about and what it does for us. It is the first organ to work at conception and the last to die, yet how much do we really know about its function? The heart is a labyrinth of beauty, and I believe the more people know about it, the more they will appreciate what it takes to maintain good health." Lisa Jamieson, Events Manager, Wellcome Collection, said: "This is a first for the UK and for Wellcome Collection. The broadcast will be a fascinating opportunity to observe a major surgical procedure and hear directly from experts whilst they are working. It will give unparalleled insights into an operating theatre and the skill and expertise of those involved. It also encapsulates the Wellcome Trust's vision of engaging the public with medicine and its applications." Wellcome Collection, opened on June 21, is a world first. It combines three contemporary galleries together with the world-famous Wellcome Library, public events forum, café, bookshop, conference centre and members' club, to provide visitors with radical insight into the human condition. Wellcome Collection builds on the vision, legacy and personal collection of Wellcome Trust founder Sir Henry Wellcome, and is part of the Trust's mission to foster understanding and promote research to improve human and animal health. Admission is free. END Public information contact details: Wellcome Collection: www.wellcomecollection.org Wellcome Collection events: www.wellcomecollection.org/exhibitionsandevents/index.asp Wellcome Collection Further Information: Wellcome Collection media centre and images: www.kallaway.co.uk/wellcome.htm Press contacts Wellcome Trust Press contacts: About the Wellcome Trust Press contacts About Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust END TO ALL |