Paulette makes a cry from the heart

A Clydach mum joined health campaigners in the House of Commons to call for young people with a family history of sudden and unexplained death to be given automatic screening on the NHS. 

Paulette Smith, whose son Christiaan died from an undiagnosed heart problem in 1999, was in London to drum up support for a Private Member’s Bill being presented by MP Dari Taylor. 

It calls for automatic screening for people at a high risk of Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome. 

This condition claims the lives of up to eight apparently healthy young people every week in the UK, according to charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which is backing the Bill. 

Paulette, Swansea and West Wales spokeswoman for CRY, said: “It is such a cruel condition. 

“Young people can appear perfectly healthy and then collapse and die. 

“Much needs to be done to increase screening and cut the numbers of victims.” 

The Bill is supported by MP’s and sporting stars including Ian Botham and Welsh rugby star Robert Jones. 

Robert, who regularly fund-raises for CRY, handed over £12,500 worth of cardiac equipment to Clydach Hospital in January. 

His own cousin, Alun Jones, was a victim of a hidden heart defect and his death devastated the family. 

“If Alun had been screened his condition could have been picked up and treated, and he could still have been alive today,” he said.

CRY said immediate screening of families after a sudden death was vital for identifying genetic faults in the heart and prevent further deaths. 

But because many people were dismissed as “too young” to have heart problems and undergo testing, important warning signs were often missed.  CRY is launching six clinics across the UK to offer screening for concerned younger people, with costs of tests ranging from £35 to £200. 

Alison Cox, chief executive of CRY, said: “Sudden death in young people can no longer be ignored by health professionals or the Government. 

“It could affect anyone.  That’s why we need to improve access to screening so that people with cause for concern can take steps to prevent it from striking their families.” 

Ms Taylor added: “This bill has forced the Department of Health to seriously consider for the first time the problem of cardiac death in the young and the Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson has been receptive.”