§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of teenagers who might be at risk from cardiomyopathy leading to sudden death. [43130]
§ Mr. BoatengWhile cardiomyopathy is one of the leading causes of sudden death in teenagers, it is not known how many people are affected by cardiomyopathy nor, of those who are, how many might be at risk. The Department is working with clinicians and voluntary organisations on the diagnosis, management and treatment of this condition.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a national screening programme for cardiomyopathy for all children starting secondary school to identify those suffering from Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. [43129]
§ Mr. BoatengThe National Screening Committee (NSC), which offers health Ministers advice about the case for individual screening programmes, has not yet considered the case for screening children for cardiomyopathy. The NSC has commissioned a study of the emerging evidence which will inform its consideration later in the year. Any decision on the introduction of a national programme will be made in the light of that consideration.