Victim's mum launches young heart failure drive

A North Wales woman who died after being startled by an alarm clock will feature in a high-profile campaign. 

The mum of Lisa Jane Browne wants health chiefs to begin mass screenings of teenagers at risk of sudden heart failure. 

Doreen Harley’s 27-year-old daughter died from Long QT Syndrome, an electrical abnormality of the heart that cannot be detected after death. 

Each week in the UK, eight young people are thought to die from the condition. 

Now a regional representative for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Deeside-based Doreen is helping organise a national postcard campaign. 

Lisa is among the sudden cardiac death victims featured on the cards, going to MP’s lobbying for support in securing screening for  high-risk families. 

Doreen said: “If Lisa had been offered an ECG test, it is more than likely that she would be here today.  CRY’s ultimate aim is to get an ECG offered to all teenagers around the age of 14.” 

The campaign has already won the backing of local politicians. 

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami said: “CRY hopes the impact of the cards will maintain the momentum set last year, when the Department of Health agreed to add a new chapter to the national service framework on coronary heart disease, dedicated to deaths among young people. 

I am determined to ensure as many MP’s as possible back the CRY campaign.” 

Carl Sargeant, Alyn and Deeside AM, said: ”All of the victims had no apparent symptoms or history of bad health. 

“Yet it’s widely acknowledged many of the hundreds of sudden deaths which occur every year in the UK, could be prevented if simple cardiac screening was made more accessible. 

“We really need to public to back us.  If anyone can help with handing out postcards please call me on 01244 821215 for further information and a supply of postcards.”