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 The
parents of a fit and healthy teenager who died from a sudden cardiac death
have welcomed new moves to help tackle the condition.
Andrew Gard, who lived in
Frinton and was a promising member of Clacton Hockey Club, died seven
years ago - just days before his 18th birthday.
His parents Caroline and
Peter, of Glebe Way in Frinton, have campaigned and raised money in a bid
to increase awareness of the condition ever since.
And they were in the
House of Commons to hear Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson, announced
a new body is to be set up to look into sudden cardiac deaths.
It will continue the work
of raising awareness and will also advise the Department of Health on
future policy.
The group will be chaired
by the National Clinical Director for Heart Disease, Dr Roger Boyle.
Voluntary and
professional organisations including Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) to
which the Gards belong-and the British Cardiac Society will be invited to
join.
Patients and families of
patients will also have a strong voice in the work.
Mrs Gard, who works at
the Clacton compus of Colchester Institute said that she was delighted
with the progress being made over the issue and was encouraged by the
debate in the House of Commons.
“The discussion lasted
around five hours and although the Government did not feel able to support
the Cardiac Risk in the Young (Screening) Bill put forward by Dari Taylor
MP, we have at least taken a major step forward,” she said.
Mrs Gard added that there
were other initiatives under way locally such as a new cardiac clinic to
be staged at Colchester Hospital. It
will open in May.
So
far more than £90,000 has been raised for CRY across Tendring in memory
of Andrew.
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