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Cardiac Disease (Young People)

Such services are being developed across the country. They are at different levels of development, of course, as I am sure the hon. Lady appreciates. To sum up today where we are with them is not possible. Every clinical expertise develops at its own pace. Best practice at many centres is being considered. As I mentioned, Manchester has the ability to offer best practice to other centres in progress. Important developments have taken place. The developments promoted by organisations such as CRY are the building blocks—or steps, as were mentioned—for a better-quality service for those who need it. I mentioned that an absence of symptoms can make it difficult to determine who may be at risk from one of the inherited conditions that could result in a sudden cardiac death and what that risk may be. There have always been arguments for and against the national screening of population groups for inherited conditions. My hon. Friend the Member for North Durham mentioned the important possibility of considering what medical assessments could take place in secondary school. That is something that we could and should consider; it is a valuable contribution to the debate. The UK National Screening Committee has reviewed the evidence for screening for the most widespread inherited cardiac condition—hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—on a number of occasions and is doing so again. However, the committee has always concluded that there is not enough evidence to warrant either a blanket screening programme or one targeted specifically at those groups thought to be at high risk, such as young athletes. If a person is found to have an inherited heart condition, it may never affect them. Also, if they are involved in sporting activities, there is little evidence to suggest that removing them from that environment will either reduce or increase their risk of dying suddenly from the condition. A person who tests positive will therefore face significant dilemmas. Should they continue the career that they have mapped out for themselves? Should they start a family? They can also be penalised financially with higher insurance premiums. Those are some of the hard facts that would be faced by those screened. Whether or not widespread screening takes place, we must encourage and support any initiative that raises awareness of inherited cardiac conditions and gets people to question whether they may be at risk. That might involve people simply asking themselves straightforward questions about the health of living and deceased relatives and deducing whether there might be a risk. My hon. Friend the Member for Stockton, South mentioned the James Cook university hospital in Middlesbrough and the work taking place there. Without question, I endorse the work of specialist nurses in that area.