A group will be set up to
explore ways to prevent young people dying from heart problems after
pressure from a North-East MP.
Public Health Minister
Melanie Johnson announced the move to tackle so-called sudden cardiac
death and improve services for people with irregular heartbeats.
It came in response to a
back bench Bill sponsored by Dari Taylor, Labour MP for Stockton South,
who won the support of sports stars and celebrities for her campaign.
Four people a week in the
UK, often young and fit individuals, die from previously undiagnosed heart
condition.
Yesterday, Mrs Taylor
said she would withdraw the Bill after an offer from the Government to set
up an advisory group to help tackle the condition and improve services for
people with irregular heartbeats.
Ms Johnson said the
advisory group, to be headed by the National Clinical Director for Heart
Disease, Dr Roger Boyle, would raise awareness of the conditions and
advise the Health Department on policy.
It could also lead to
advice being given to doctors.
An estimated 400
apparently healthy young people die each year from sudden adult cardiac
death syndrome, and a further 700,000 people in the UK suffer from
disturbances in the heart
