The
Cardiomyopathy
Association

Every cardiac network in the UK should ensure its residents have access to specialist inherited heart disease services for children and adults, says a new report.

The report — 'Heart to Heart: Inherited Cardiovascular Disease' — was drawn up by a working group of experts including cardiologists, geneticists, service managers and charity representatives, including the Cardiomyopathy Association’s chief executive Robert Hall.

Other key recommendations included:

• Cardiac networks should develop minimum standards of access to these services, taking into account likely increases in demand over the next five to ten years
• Service providers should ensure that necessary support systems are developed and services are kept up to date
• Legal and system changes should ensure tissue samples following a sudden death are handled and retained appropriately.

Robert said: “Recent advances in cardiology and genetics are making it possible for doctors to offer improved diagnosis and clinical care and so reduce unnecessary deaths. Steps are needed to ensure that speedy and equal access to these services is possible across the UK. The new report provides a starting point for developing these services. It is an important document which I urge anyone who is affected by cardiomyopathy to read and help us in our campaign for improved services'.

The report was funded and led by the Foundation for Genomics and Population Health.  The document can be downloaded here.