"Sharpen 2020 vision for congenital heart care" urge charities
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PRESS RELEASE 26 March 2009 Congenital heart disease (CoHD) charities are voicing their concern that the new ‘Destination 2020’ report launched today (Thursday 26 March) by the Cardiac and Vascular Coalition (CVC) does not draw the important distinction between congenital and coronary heart disease clearly enough to ensure that future services for people living with a heart defect from birth are safe and sustainable.
“We welcome the drive to keep heart health high in the minds of health service planners,” explains Anne Keatley-Clarke , Chief Executive of the Children’s Heart Federation, “but congenital heart disease is not the same as heart damage from lifestyle choices. Heart defects from birth need quite different approaches to care than adult heart problems and there is a danger that this will be overlooked.”
Anne Keatley-Clarke goes on, “The report is a big advance on the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease, which it aims to replace, which was silent about CoHD, but misses the opportunity to address the key issues and give congenital heart disease a voice.”
“The plumbing of an adult heart affected by coronary heart disease is pretty standard,” explains Anne Keatley-Clarke, “but when surgeons open up an adult with a congenital heart defect, perhaps operated on several times in childhood, they are facing unique and highly complex problems. There are too few surgeons to meet the growing demand but Destination 2020 needs to focus more clearly on these and other important CoHD issues.”
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Media enquiries: Cecilia Yardley; Tel: 020 7422 0630; Mobile: 0798 402 1302
Notes to editors 1. Congenital heart conditions are the most common birth defect in the UK, and a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths world-wide. One in every 133 babies in the UK is born with a heart condition (approximately 5000 children each year, with a further 1000 developing a serious heart problem after birth). 2. Numbers of adults with congenital heart disease is increasing significantly and possibly by as much as 10% per year (all conditions) Adult Congenital Heart Disease A commissioning guide for services for young people and Grown Ups with Congenital Heart Disease (GUCH) (Department of Health, May 2006) 3. The Children`s Heart Federation (CHF) is an umbrella organisation with 22 member organisations dedicated to helping children with congenital or acquired heart disease and their families in the UK and Ireland. CHF provides information and support through its freephone helpline 0808 808 5000, open Monday to Friday and its website www.chfed.org.uk4. The Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC), a group of 41 charities representing patients, charities doctors and nurses published a report entitled ‘Destination 2020’ containing proposals on how the Government should approach the fight against cardiac and vascular health, including heart, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, over the next decade. 5. The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease in England was a 10-year plan of action launched in 2000. |
