Pioneering Shropshire doctor's hospital retirement

Dr Mary Heber, 59, the chief cardiologist at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, officially retires on March 31 but her last day at work was on March 19.

She has practiced cardiology at the PRH since 1989 and was the first cardiologist to be appointed in the county.

Grateful colleagues, patients and friends hosted a party for her at Princess Royal Hospital, where they presented her with presents, flowers and cake.

Dr Heber, who lives in Little Wenlock, said: "The field has transformed since I began. When I was studying medicine and cardiology, the treatment after a heart attack used to be to put the patients to bed for three weeks and let them recover.

"Now, we fit pacemakers and blow balloons in their arteries to ease the pressure on the heart and allow the blood to flow normally through the veins."

Dr Heber said: "Comparing the two methods, it is staggering how far we have come and what we used to do."

Since her appointment, she has seen the cardiology department expand from just herself to the nine cardiologists working between the PRH and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Dr Heber continued: "The department expanding has definitely been one of my highlights, and one of the things I hope for most is if I leave any sort of legacy behind, it will be these nine cardiologists continue to save lives and continue to be innovative."

She added: "In 1990 we introduced the innovative pacemaker, the first hospital in the county to do so.

"At the time, this was massive as patients who suffered heart attacks or had heart problems had to travel to Stoke to get one fitted. This has saved and prolonged countless lives in the county."

However, she hasn't restricted her expertise to the Shropshire area as she has served her country in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the Territorial Army, which she joined in 1978.

She completed two six-month tours of Iraq in 2004 and 2006, where she worked in the field hospital treating injured soldiers and civilians who were hurt in the conflict at the base in Basra, southern Iraq.

In 2009, she did a six-month tour working at the British Army's base in Afghanistan, where she also practiced general medicine for injured soldiers.

"I really enjoyed my time out in Iraq and Afghanistan" said Dr Heber. "It was completely out of my comfort zone and different to what I was used to, but the self satisfaction was just as great and I honestly couldn't choose which one I preferred."

Martin Beardwell, acting chair at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Dr Heber is very eminent in the field of cardiology and her reputation extends well beyond the trust.

"She was one of the first people appointed to work at the new Princess Royal Hospital when it opened in Telford.

"She established the cardiology service, both there and right across the county. That service has been vitally important for people with heart conditions."

Dr Heber has a legion of grateful patients, none more so than the Avis family from Wellington.

Geoff Avis, 60, had a triple heart by-pass in 1996 and was transferred into the care of Dr Heber when he moved to the Telford area a year later.

She reviewed his case and administered medication when needed and has aided his recovery every six months since 1997. Mr Avis said the real success story for his family had, however, been the treatment his daughter Joanne received in 2004.

Miss Avis suffered from endocarditis, which is a problem with the valves surrounding the heart that do not function properly, which meant she suffered from two strokes.

Miss Avis said: "I had been turned away from two Birmingham hospitals after they couldn't diagnose me so I went to Dr Heber on my father's recommendation.

"As I was lying on the hospital bed, I just saw her dragging this massive machine across to my bed and she diagnosed me immediately, which is difficult as this problem is not common."

Miss Avis then had to spend the next three months in hospital, during which time Dr Heber recommended she had open heart surgery. She added: "Dr Heber is the most amazing, humble woman you could ever meet, and she doesn't realise how great she is.

"It is sad that she is retiring, but she has saved so many lives it's about time that she was allowed to go and enjoy hers."

Mr Avis added: "I think Dr Heber will be sorely missed throughout Shropshire. She has worked so hard and saved so many lives that her retiring will impact greatly on the county and the people who suffer heart problems."

"There is no doubt in my mind that Joanne wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the work of Dr Heber and for that, my family will be eternally grateful."

Now, Dr Heber has plans to go travelling, with her first destination pencilled in for Brazil on April 2, before moving on to Peru.

After travelling Dr Heber said she planned to do what most people who are retired do - spend more time with the family, in the garden and decorating.