CRY Chairman Dr Greg Whyte (Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport) and CRY’s consultant Dr Sanjay Sharma (consultant cardiologist at Lewisham University Hospital) are the first nominations for the working group (Sudden Death in the Young / Screening) to be chaired by Professor Bill McKenna, world expert on young sudden cardiac death and CRY’s first Patron.
This is the sub-group nominated to address the issue of screening fo
r signs and symptoms after death or diagnosis, that was the basis of Dari Taylor MP’s Cardiac Risk in the Young (Screening) Bill that was debated in the House on March 15 2004.
Health Minister Melanie Johnson responded at the conclusion of the debate to the work done by Dari and CRY raising awareness of the issue of young sudden cardiac death, with the offer leading to this consultation period for a new chapter in the National Service Framework on Arrhythmias and Sudden Death.
Dr Sharma crucially provided the medical information that informed Dari’s Bill, and in tandem with Dr Whyte advised on the highly specialised aspect of screening in sport.
