HEART SCREENING WALES

Calon Hearts, through its charitable heart screening programme, has already established the benefit of screening, having identified many people with life-changing and life-limiting cardiac conditions. As part of a strategic reorganisation, Calon Screening is going to continue this important work to save lives in Wales.

MISSION

At least 12 seemingly healthy young people die every week in the UK from heart conditions they didn't even know they had. Our mission is simple; to reduce this number so that no family loses a loved one to a heart condition that could have been detected and managed.

Sudden Cardiac Death in the young is an under-recognised important health problem and tragedy in the UK. It is estimated that at least 12 deaths per week are a result of SCD in the young.

Furthermore, a significant proportion of these deaths are preventable by simple screening with an ECG and echocardiogram. However, the current UK National screening committee does not recommend systematic population screening for cardiac conditions and SCD in the Young. We feel this is wrong and based on a gross underestimation of the incidence of SCD in the young, inadequate understanding of the effectiveness of screening, and lack of appreciation of beneficial treatment strategies available.