Support after heart attack
379. Maurice Smith
A Langley Mill man who helped found the Nottingham Cardiac Support Group and has run it for 25 years.
Maurice Smith, age 78, set up the support group in 1990 after suffering a heart attack himself and spending 2 weeks in Nottingham City Hospital. A few weeks later he along with three other ex-patients were contacted to see if they would be interested in setting up a self-help group, the aim of the group would be to support others who were going through a similar ordeal.
Maurice has been the Chairman of the group for the last 17 years and runs monthly meetings to provide support to patients and their families dealing with heart disease, specifically in their recovery period after they have been discharged. They get in guest speakers from the medical and health professions and have supported an enormous 3,000 people in the Nottingham area.
The group currently looks after around 200 members, of which 12 are elected as trustees to run the group on an annual basis. All members and trustees are volunteers, and Maurice has been instrumental in inspiring them to join. Together they have raised around £200,000 which has been donated back to the Nottingham hospitals in the form of exercise equipment for use in cardiac rehabilitation.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Through the Cardiac Support Group Nottingham, Maurice has supported thousands of people overcoming the trauma of heart disease, and helped them learn practical ways to manage their conditions. His fundraising and dedication over the last 25 years have helped a huge number of heart attack survivors and their families, and I am delighted to be recognising his service by making him the UK’s 379th Point of Light.”
Maurice said:
“I was absolutely gobsmacked when I received this award. I didn’t expect anything at all so this means a great deal both for me and everyone else in the group who has been involved.”
Local MP, Nigel Mills, said:
“I am delighted that my constituent, Maurice Smith has been given a Point of Light Award. This is a fantastic acknowledgement of his outstanding voluntary work as co-founder and chairman of the Cardiac Support Group Nottingham. I am aware of the invaluable support that Maurice provides to cardiac patients and their families locally and I am pleased that this has been recognised by the Prime Minister.”