Contacting your MP

Engaging your Representative

Contacting your MP to let them know about your experience is one of the most powerful ways to raise awareness of young sudden cardiac death. It is vital that MPs hear directly from their constituents.

most important thing to remeber

Your MP needs to hear your personal reason for contacting them, and the impact this issue has had on you.

How to contact your MP

Ways to get in touch

1

Find your MP

You can find your MP and their contact details at members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP. Every MP has a constituency office and a Westminster office — either can be used to make contact.

2

Write, email or visit their surgery

You can contact your MP by email, letter, or in person at one of their regular constituency surgeries. All MPs hold surgeries where constituents can meet them directly — this is one of the most effective ways to be heard. You don’t need an appointment; check your MP’s website for their next surgery dates.

3

Tell your personal story

Sharing your story about why you are supporting CRY helps to explain the devastating impact that young sudden cardiac deaths have on family, friends and community. Hearing from young people who have been diagnosed with a cardiac condition, or who have attended a CRY screening, is also important. Personal stories are what move MPs to act.

4

Ask them to sign CRY's pledge

Ask your MP to sign the pledge to support a National Strategy for the Prevention of Young Sudden Cardiac Death. The UK needs a national strategy to ensure the guidelines and policies to prevent young sudden cardiac death are consistent. More information about the pledge can be found at c-r-y.org.uk/my-pledge.

related pages

CRY information

key points to raise

What to say to your MP

As well as your personal story, you can share these key facts with your MP to explain the scale and importance of the issue:

Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die from an undiagnosed cardiac condition.

In 80% of young sudden cardiac deaths, there are no symptoms prior to death.

CRY believes all young people should have the choice to have their heart screened. CRY screens approximately 30,000 young people every year.

1 in 300 people CRY screens has a potentially fatal underlying cardiac condition. 1 in 100 has a condition which may cause problems if left untreated.

Cardiac conditions in young people can be treated — in some cases even cured — through lifestyle modification, medication and/or surgery.

Current UK policies on young sudden cardiac death are contradictory. A National Strategy is needed to ensure guidelines and policies are consistent.

About the APPG: There is a CRY All-Party Parliamentary Group, with the purpose of promoting amongst parliamentarians the issue of cardiac risk in the young. If your MP is already a member of the APPG, let them know this is an important issue to you. If they are not a member, encourage them to join — they can do so by contacting the APPG Secretariat at parliament@c-r-y.org.uk. Learn more about the APPG.

key points to raise

After your MP responds

If your mp signs the pledge

CRY will issue a local press release and thank them on social media

If your MP signs the pledge to support a national strategy, CRY’s press office will issue a press release to local media outlets — helping to amplify the message in your community.

If you would be willing to provide a quote about why it is important to you that your MP has supported the pledge, please email jo.hudson@trinitypr.co.uk.

if your mp has already signed

Please still contact them

If your local MP has already signed the pledge, we would still urge you to contact them to tell them your story and the impact a young sudden cardiac death has had on your family, friends and community.

Continuing to engage with MPs helps demonstrate the true impact of a young sudden cardiac death — and encourages them to remain active on the issue in Parliament.