Sign-up In Support Of Screening

Momentum is growing for Cardiac Risk in the Young’s (CRY) national campaign petitioning Governments to review its policy on cardiac screening for young people in the UK. The e-petition needs as many signatories as possible for the Government to take the issue seriously (http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31819). Currently, the policy states that “screening should not be offered.” (www.screening.nhs.uk/hcm). The call is backed by Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burham MP.

The move comes after an unprecedented national focus on cardiac screening, following the sudden collapse of footballer Fabrice Muamba on Saturday 17th March. Whilst Fabrice’s condition is reported to be improving, the fact that an apparently healthy, young sportsman at the peak of his career could be affected in this way has caused shock and disbelief across the world. According to Dr Steve Cox, Director of Screening at CRY this most recent case has led to a huge public response for the charity’s advice and services, as a result of “the greatest level of awareness since I became involved with CRY. All our public screening events are fully booked and we are trying to opening up more events.”