A fresh inquest is to be held into the death of a young nurse. 

Countess of Chester paediatric nurse Lisa Jane Browne died suddenly in January, 1998 with the Cheshire coroner later recording an open verdict.      

Her family later found out that she was suffering from Long QT Syndrome, an infrequent, hereditary disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm that can occur in otherwise healthy people, a fact confirmed by DNA testing.   

Although there is little dispute Long QT Syndrome caused Mrs Browne's death, her husband Stuart and parents, Terence and Doreen Harley, of Halkyn View, Connah's Quay, Deeside, have campaigned for a fresh inquest to be held. 

The new inquest will take place at Warrington Town Hall on Friday at 2pm.  It follows the personal intervention of the Attorney General and a decision by the High Court. 

In a rare move, the inquest was re-opened by order of the High Court to hear new evidence that Lisa died of Long QT Syndrome, previously unascertainable after death. 

Lisa's mother Doreen said: 2We, the family are obviously pleased and relieved the inquest has been reopened.  Hopefully now  many other families can benefit from the knowledge LQT2 can be diagnosed after death and will be given the screenings where appropriate.  That way family members can get the screenings that are so hugely important." 

Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), long time campaigners into the causes of sudden cardiac death in young people 35 years and under, was also delighted by the decision. 

Alison Cox, CRY's chief executive, said: "We hope this inquest will highlight how vitally important specialist referrals by pathologists are to provide a diagnosis and prevent the loss of countless innocent lives through ignorance of the condition.  It is crucial to bring these matters into the public domain and to the public's attention." 

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said: "Lisa's inquest will be the first I have had to re-open during my 14 years as a Coroner.  Out of all the thousands of inquests held in the UK each year only about 25 ever needed to be re-opened.  This case is so important, the public has to be made very aware of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young.