A 46-year-old man from Sleaford is one of 37 adults to receive a lifesaving heart transplant from Royal Papworth Hospital.
He had a condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy, which is where the walls of a human heart are rigid, restricting blood flow.
Simon said he owes everything to his donor and the hospital for giving him a second chance at life with his wife and two sons.
Simon Panton, 46, is “forever indebted” after his heart transplant. | Photo: Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The transplants at the Cambridgeshire hospital have continued through 2020/21, despite the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In new NHS figures, it was found that more than one heart or lung transplant took place each week between April 2020 and March 2021, 70% of last year’s total.
56 transplants were completed, 37 for the heart and 19 for lungs, and Simon Panton, 46, from Sleaford, was one of the patients to receive a new heart transplant at the hospital.
Simon said: “I spent about 15 weeks in hospital during winter both before and after my transplant and felt completely safe throughout.
“The only down side was watching England in the cricket on TV.
“I’ve been home a couple of weeks now and was not expecting to be feeling this good this soon. I’m already the fittest I’ve been in the past three years.”
As well as this, Royal Papworth Hospital also worked with Great Ormond Street Hospital to rollout a world-first paediatric heart transplant programme, saving six children’s lives in 2020.
Dr Stephen Pettit, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for Transplant for Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for everyone in the hospital, including all of us in the transplant unit.
“In addition to treating people from across the East of England with coronavirus, our staff have gone to great lengths to make sure that people can safely access other services.
“Every day across the UK, someone dies waiting for a transplant because of a shortage of organ donors and so we are absolutely committed to ensuring every time we get a heart or lungs offered to someone on our waiting list, we will make the transplant happen.”
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We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a collision caused serious injuries to a 23-year-old man.
Just before 3.30pm yesterday (2 July), we received reports of a collision on Barholm Road in Tallington. It involved a grey BMW 335D estate, a blue BMW 116D and an orange KTM motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider, a 23-year-old man, sustained serious injuries during the collision and was taken to hospital.
If you witnessed the incident and are yet to get in touch with us, please do so. If you have any other information or dashcam footage available that may have captured the road along the A1175 at the time of the collision, get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 282 of 2 July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 282 of 2 July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
The 2022 Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards are open for applications, and Destination Lincolnshire giving you the rare chance to co-create your application with Nell Barrington, a tourism awards veteran, who has helped hundreds of businesses write winning applications over the last 15 years – including national VisitEngland winners.
The Tourism Awards Masterclass is taking place on Tuesday 12 July at 11am for one-hour online. Laura Freer, Head of Marketing at Destination Lincolnshire said: “This is a golden opportunity, after years of hard work and heartache, to get your business and team recognised and rewarded.
“A well written application is key to achieving a coveted place on this year’s shortlist, and I’d encourage all tourism and visitor economy businesses who are thinking of entering – whether they are seasoned at writing award applications or not – to join us for this exclusive masterclass.
“Nell Barrington has worked with us and VisitEngland on the founding application processes of these awards, and she is perfectly placed to assist in co-creating applications that you can be proud of. This is a great opportunity for business development too – whether you are shortlisted for an award or not – discovering how to effectively apply for awards and talk up your business adds another string to your bow.
“Booking is essential and places are limited to just 35 – so be quick! This year we’ve made our masterclass available to partners and also to those who we are yet to work with for free. Call it an added bonus, after two years away from the awards circuit.
The awards masterclass is focussed on the application process, and it will spell out what the judges are looking for. You’ll learn how to make your application stand out from the local competition, helping your chances of going through to the national VisitEngland Awards in 2023.”
There are fifteen categories open for nominations from visitors attraction, accommodation providers, hospitality businesses and many more.
The deadline for nominations is July 29, with online judging starting on July 30 and mystery shopping from August 13. Finalists will be announced on Monday, August 15.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Engine Shed on October 21, and will be hosted by Lincs FM presenter, John Marshall.
The event is organised by Stonebow Media, publishers of The Lincolnite, to celebrate the best businesses in Greater Lincolnshire, alongside headline sponsors Lincoln College and Destination Lincolnshire.
We would also like to thank our other sponsors Visit Lincolnshire, Heart of Lincs, Duncan and Toplis and LNER, insight6 and EV Camel.
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