Heart patient accepted for transplant

Press, 30 September 1986, Page 7

Heart patient accepted for transplant

The Christchurch man who flew to Sydney this month for a heart transplant has been officially accepted for the surgery after assessment at St Vincent’s Hospital. But first Mr Roy Richards, aged 54, must lose nine kilograms in weight. His daughter, Sandra, said in Christchurch that her father had telephoned with news of his acceptance and the need to lose weight. He was on a 1000-calo-ries-a-day diet and had already lost some weight, she said. The heat in Sydney was also helping and her father was feeling better than he had for a long time, she said. Mr Richards and his wife, Betty, may have to

stay in a hospital flat in Sydney for some time yet, as a suitable heart donor will have to be found after he has lost weight Mr Richards will be Christchurch’s first heart transplant patient He was provisionally accepted for such surgery in Sydney pending further assessment. The Australian Government will pay for the transplant, as Mr Richards was born in Australia and has retained citizenship of that country, although he has lived in New Zealand for 20 years. The New Zealand Social Welfare Department and The Princess Margaret Hospital's cardiology department have paid for his accommodation and travel costs.