The British Heart Foundation has welcomed news that a life-saving service the charity co-funded for two years has now secured NHS funding because of its success.
The funding means patients in Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda health areas will benefit from the life saving tests, but the charity is calling for a Wales-wide screening programme.
Joanne Oliver, Health Systems Insight Manager for BHF Cymru said, “We are delighted that our support of Inherited Cardiac Conditions genetic testing which was initially funded by the BHF and the Miles Frost Fund as a pilot will now be provided through NHS funding. This means that patients in the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda University Health Board areas will receive vital coordinated screening and improved care for potentially fatal genetic heart conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome as well as families who have experienced a sudden, unexplained and premature death.
“It is essential that funding for similar services will now be secured across Wales to save more families from the heartbreak of losing a loved one to an inherited genetic heart condition.”
For more information about the BHF Miles Frost Fund: https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/our-research/miles-frost-fund/about-the-miles-frost-fund
Genetic cardiac testing service made permanent – Swansea Bay University Health Board (nhs.wales)
