On Thursday October 22nd 2026, we hosted our very first in-person event at Queen’s University in Belfast.
At the event we had some brilliant speakers, including cardiothoracic surgeons Mr Naill McGongile and Mr Joel Dunning, members of the team from the Scottish National Chest Wall Service, and patients from Northern Ireland who shared their experiences of living with pectus conditions and trying to access care.
We were thrilled to welcome over 80 guests to the event: made up of patients, family members, healthcare professionals…even the BBC made an appearance.
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of pectus conditions, and stress the need for improved access to care in Northern Ireland. In previous discussions, Mr Niall McGonigle (cardiothoracic surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast) had shared that pectus excavatum patients in Northern Ireland couldn't access the vacuum bell on the NHS, and children with pectus carinatum were being referred to the Scottish National Chest Wall Service for chest bracing. For any patients whose sternum required surgical intervention, the minimum wait for surgery was 6 - 8 years.
Our trustees Bazil, Ellie S, Simon and Kate, with surgeon (and long-time supporter) Mr Joel Dunning.
At the event, patient speakers Charlie Clarke and Elizabeth Pollock shared their experiences of living with pectus excavatum. Both patients had been met with obstacles trying to get a diagnosis and getting referred to Mr McGonigle’s service. Elizabeth’s mum shared how much pectus surgery has changed her daughters life, whilst Charlie Clarke continues to suffer from the life-limiting physical symptoms of severe pectus excavatum whilst she sits on a waiting list for surgical treatment.
We hope that the event has drawn attention to the difficulties faced by patients in Northern Ireland, and will encourage HSC Northern Ireland to make care more accessible.
If you’d like to catch up on the talks from the day, you can find them linked here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYjai08kDCXY&si=tXdMBFJ87KhtNn2R
