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Dad welcomes pledge to
help
A Father left devastated
by the loss of his son to a form of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, today
welcomed Government moves to help prevent more deaths from the condition.
Health Minister Melanie
Johnson announced plans to set up an advisory group to help tackle sudden
heart deaths in the young and improve services for people with irregular
heartbeats and similar conditions.
The sudden death of
22-year-old Levon Morland, of West Rainton, two years ago, led family and
friends to push for more action to be taken against conditions such as the
Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome which
claimed his life.
Dad Jeff, a trade union
official, has been the driving force behind the Levon Morland Memorial
Fund for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), raising more than £40,000 in 20
months.
Jeff, who is also
Northern Labour Party chairman, said “The initial private member’s
bill put forward was quite narrow, only proposing screenings for those
with a family history of the condition, but this is a good step forward to
try and get more screenings to other groups, such as those involved in
sport or demanding work.
“This condition kills a
reported eight people every week, but I believe it’s actually more than
that because they are often put down as natural causes.
“Most could have been
treated in some way and are curable with pacemakers, drugs or even just
lifestyle changes.”
Dari Taylor, MP for
Stockton South who used to be a Sunderland councillor and presented the
Cardiac Risk in the Young (Screening) Bill said, “We know from research
and experience that we can prevent these deaths-but now we need to put
that knowledge to work.
“Far too many cases are
slipping through the net undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or diagnosed but not
treated.
“This announcement will
help prevent such deaths and I am delighted that the Government has taken
this terrible condition seriously.”
The new advisory group,
headed by National Clinical Director for Heart Disease Dr Roger Boyle,
will help raise awareness of the conditions and advise the Health
Department on future policy.
It could also lead to a
new National Service Framework Chapter setting out advice for doctors on
standards and models of care for such conditions.
Voluntary
and professional bodies including CRY and the British Cardiac Society will
be invited to join. Patients
and families of patients will also have a strong voice in the work.
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