The Highland News Group’s highly successful Heartbeat appeal was praised in a House Of Commons debate on the risk of cardiac disease among the young.

Speaking during discussion of the Cardiac Risk in the Young (Screening) Bill presented by Dari Taylor, the Labour member for Stockton South, North MP David Stewart said:

“My local newspaper, the Highland News, launched a campaign to raise three-quarters of a million pounds for a dedicated, cardiac rehabilitation and research unit.

“I Congratulate the newspaper group, as that project is very much in the spirit of my Honourable Friend’s Bill.”

The substance of Ms Taylor’s Bill referred to the tragedy of sudden death in the young from a variety of cardiac problems.

She argued that early diagnosis and screening by a cardiac specialist could save lives.

In a number of cases, advice on a different lifestyle, drug support, a small surgical operation known as an ablation, or the fitting of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device, might have resulted in a life being saved.

As a result, the government has suggested the establishment of an advisory group on cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.

If appropriate, such a group would write a chapter for the national service framework for coronary heart disease.

The Highland Heartbeat Appeal to build a new cardiac unit for the Highlands-spearheaded by the Highland News Group in association with the British Heart Foundation reached its target of £755,000 before Christmas.