TWO Northern Ireland women have won charity awards for their outstanding efforts in supporting heart disease patients and raising money for life saving heart research.
Dr Susan Connolly, a Consultant Cardiologist in the Western Trust, was named Healthcare Hero while Lisa Brown, a heart failure patient from Magherafelt, was named Innovative Fundraiser at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) UK's Heart Hero Awards.
Dr Connolly leads the Our Hearts Our Minds Programme for cardiovascular health service in the Western Trust.
Delivered by a nurse-led multidisciplinary team, it aims to help patients and their families to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke.
When the pandemic began in March 2020, despite a higher workload, Dr Connolly continued to innovate and ensure patients continued to have access to the programme.
Ms Brown (48), who lives with severe heart failure, won the public vote in the Innovative Fundraiser category.
The owner of online accessories business Brown Bag Boutique, she donates 10 per cent of every purchase to the BHF and recently raised almost £3,000 when she held a birthday fundraiser.
