A former Morriston Hospital cardiac patient chose a birthday he thought he might never see as the perfect opportunity to say a huge thank you by raising more than £3,000 for much-needed equipment.

Jim Jones, 94, had an aortic valve replacement in April 2019. He was so overwhelmed to be handed a new lease of life, he decided to forgo presents for his 90th birthday.

Instead he asked for donations to be made to Morriston’s cardiac unit, which looks after heart patients.

Jim, from Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire, saw his act of generosity raise an impressive £3,400. This was topped up by the hospital’s League of Friends – a charitable organisation that has been fundraising for Morriston for 80 years – in order to purchase six new wireless telemetry monitors for the unit.

The monitors, which are not much bigger than a mobile phone, record a patient’s vital signs on the move. 

The loss and wear and tear of previous telemetry monitors means the six new arrivals will have a big, positive impact on patients’ ability to get up and about, with the reassurance that staff are following their progress closely.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for the staff at the cardiac unit,” said Jim.

Cardiac ITU matron Ross Phillips said: “The wireless monitors will give our patients much more freedom and independence than many of them have at present, which is absolutely brilliant.

“When the circumstances allow they’ll be able to get up on their feet, have a walk around and have a change of scene.”