Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, has pledged his support for the “Don’t Fail on Heart Failure” campaign, which was launched in Parliament on Tuesday
During the reception, Mr Davies met patients and clinicians, before signing the Don’t Fail on Heart Failure pledge, committing to support patient access to treatments and technology that will save lives.
Heart failure affects three in every 100 women and four in every 100 men, with over a third of patients dying within a year of diagnosis if left untreated. The pledge aims to improve the UKs record on heart failure by improving patient’s quality of life, better management of the condition to reduce hospitalisation and NHS spending, and to reduce mortality rates.
The pledge also wants to raise awareness of heart failure and improve patient access to the latest medical technology, such as Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, and Cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) is appraising the availability of these devices in January.
Immediately after the reception, the Heart Failure pledge was delivered to the Department of Health.
Commenting of the pledge, Glyn Davies MP said: “As the local MP, I am determined to help heart failure patients in Montgomeryshire get the treatment they need to live their lives.
“Heart failure has a survival rate that is similar to cancer if left untreated, with over a third of patients dying within 1 year of diagnosis. It is vital that awareness of heart failure is increased and mortality rates are decreased.
“The implantable devices I saw today take people from constant fatigue back into work. The NHS needs to make sure these life-enhancing technologies are available for those who need them.”