Mark Tami MP has attended an event organised by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) to lend his support to the ongoing campaign for a national strategy for the prevention of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). 

50 MPs attended the charity’s first ever ‘drop in’ session, held at Portcullis Househosted by long term supporter of CRY and Chair of its All-Party Parliamentary Group [APPG], Kevan Jones MP.  

Every week, 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people in the UK die suddenly from an undiagnosed heart defect. In 80% of these cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms until it is too late, which is why CRY believes screening is so vitally important. Any person aged 14-35 can go to www.testmyheart.org.uk to book an appointment for a free heart screening which includes an ECG. CRY also provides the follow up ultrasound test on the same day. CRY now tests around 30,000 young people each year and well over 190,000 since the screening programme was launched in 1995. 

Mark Tami said; “It really does despair that so many young, supposedly fit people suddenly die from an undiagnosed heart defect.  

“I was one of the first MPs to sign a pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death to help save young lives and it is disappointing that this has still not happened. 

“It was good to welcome CRY to Parliament, I only hope that now we can begin to make serious progress on this.” 

The number of MPs who have now signed a pledge to support a national strategy to prevent sudden cardiac death (#MPSupport4CRY) stands at 171  

Chief Executive of CRY, Dr Steven Cox, commented; “It was very encouraging to welcome so many MPs to our event at Portcullis House and to update them on our campaign. Many of the MPs talked about the impact young sudden cardiac deaths have had on their constituents and the communities they represent. Some had very personal stories of the devastating impact of these tragedies. 

“We are continuing to urge all MPs to help establish a national strategy for the prevention of young sudden cardiac death to ensure the government acts to prevent the hundreds of deaths of young people each year from these undiagnosed cardiac conditions.  

The event was set against the controversial backdrop of the recent news that a revised consultation document from the National Screening Committee (NSC) is set to recommend ‘against’ screening for the risk of sudden cardiac death in the young.  

Dr Cox says, Whilst progress is being made to save young lives, this latest NSC consultation document is very disappointing. It FAILS to demonstrate the impact of young sudden cardiac deaths on our society and does not objectively evaluate the overlap between the current routine use of the ECG in the NHS / medical practice for general diagnostics and monitoring, and its role in cardiac screening. Furthermore, it FAILS to stress that 1 in 300 people screened have a cardiac condition that can benefit from treatment or lifestyle advice. 

 As a progressive society it cannot be acceptable that WE FAIL to act in response to the horrendous impact these conditions have on the family, friends and fabric of our local communities when left undiagnosed”. 

CRY MP pledge 25/06/2019
CRY MP pledge 25/06/2019
Link to Instagram Link to Twitter Link to YouTube Link to Facebook Link to LinkedIn Link to Snapchat Close Fax Website Location Phone Email Calendar Building Search