A LOCAL heart charity's medical lead took part in a prestigious conference this week.

Dr Ffion Davies, who is one of the medical leads for the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), is also a consultant in A&E at Leicester Royal Infirmary. She spoke via internet link at the British Congenital Cardiac Association's conference, which was held in Nottingham on 24 November.

The conference usually attracts around 300 medical professionals and specialists from all parts of the UK and overseas.

Dr Davies said: "I was delighted to have the opportunity to show healthcare staff from all over the country the amazing work the JHMT charity is doing in getting schoolchildren trained in CPR and getting defibrillators into public places in Leicestershire."

Dr Suhair Shebani, consultant paediatric cardiologist at the Glenfield Hospital, who led the conference's organising committee, said: "We were really excited to be hosting this meeting, despite the current external pressures on our service. It's a real opportunity to reaffirm our place at the centre of the UK's congenital heart disease map and is a proud moment for Leicester hospitals and the whole of the congenital cardiac network in the East Midlands."

The JHMT was set up after the tragic death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries, 14, from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). As well as a wide range of awareness-raising and fundraising work, the charity helps to train people in CPR and defibrillator familiarisation, holds an annual SADS Awareness Week and organises a medical conference, in conjunction with Leicester's hospitals.

Find out more about the work of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust at www.jhmt.org.uk.