WCASG (Registered Charity No. 701667) provides support and representation for the patients and carers of The Heart and Lung Centre at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.

The group was formed by ex-patients of the Coronary Care Unit of New Cross Hospital in 1985. WCASG has over 500 enrolled members and has an excellent reputation within New Cross Hospital and the community as a whole. Since 1985, WCASG has raised over £2,000,000 for the benefit of cardiac patients and their carers from across the Black Country. Over £700,000 was spent on hospital staff salaries. The remainder has supported staff education and helped to purchase pioneering equipment to assist in research.

In April 2000, WCASG campaigned in support of a proposal to develop cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology services at New Cross Hospital for the population of the Black Country and surrounding areas to meet the Government’s revascularisation targets outlined in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. A petition that contained ten thousand signatures and outlined the need and support for this development was presented in the House of Commons by our local Member of Parliament and is recorded in Hansard. The bid was accepted and the project became a reality in September 2002.

Currently, the group’s main purpose is the provision of long term Phase 4 cardiac rehab classes. These classes provide patients with the opportunity to continue with supervised exercise following the completion of their hospital rehab. This service is heavily subsidised by the charity to keep the cost to patients as low as possible.