World HMV Day – 20th May

What is World HMV Day?

 We launched World HMV Day in 2023 and our aim is to raise awareness, share knowledge, improve education amongst clinicians and HMV users, and, most importantly, to support and represent HMV patients, as well as their families and carers.

Why is World HMV Day on 20th May?

World HMV Day and the HMViP website are dedicated to the memory of Ronnie Ward, who was a participant in the HOT-HMV trial [3].
Ronnie, a former naval serviceman, was diagnosed with COPD in 2014. Using HMV reduced his risk of being hospitalised and enabled him to enjoy several additional years at home in Sussex with his family.

Ronnie’s wife, Julie, said: “I can’t stress strongly enough what it meant for us as a family and for Ronnie to have this additional time.”
Julie continued:

“Without HMV I am convinced we would not have had those extra years of living a relatively normal life. Before starting HMV, Ronnie was admitted to hospital every few weeks but once he started on the machine, he didn’t have any hospital admissions and his care was managed at home. I can’t stress strongly enough what it meant for us as a family, and for Ronnie, to have this additional time.

“There wasn’t a lot of support for family carers at the time that Ronnie was using the device, so it was quite alarming at the beginning. Even though I am a nursery nurse, I wasn’t confident that I was giving Ronnie the right support. 

“If the HMVIP website had been available eight years ago, it would have made my life a lot less stressful! I am therefore delighted to support the work of the group and to honour Ronnie’s memory by sharing my experience with other family carers.”

To listen to Julie’s and Ronnie’s story, click on the link below:
https://hmvip.co.uk/carer-story-julie

References:
[1] https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/5/523 Murphy et al, Cost-effectiveness of home non-invasive ventilation in patients with persistent hypercapnia after an acute exacerbation of COPD in the UK)
[2] https://hmvip.co.uk/research-and-evidence
[3] https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/52/suppl_62/PA1679