Home / Health / Parents Fund Heart Scans After Son's Death
Parents Fund Heart Scans After Son's Death
3 Jul
Summary
- Parents raised £14,000 for free heart screenings.
- Campaign follows death of 33-year-old son, Dan Cook.
- DHSC confirms consultation on youth heart screening.
Lesley and Robin Perkins, from Hartlepool, have initiated a campaign to fund cardiac screenings for young people, inspired by the tragic loss of their 33-year-old son, Dan Cook. Dan died from sudden cardiac arrest, a condition that claims up to 12 young lives weekly in the UK, according to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). The couple has successfully raised nearly £14,000 to offer free ECG and ultrasound scans.
These screening sessions, held in partnership with CRY at Dan's former school, High Tunstall College of Science, have examined approximately 200 individuals. The Perkins family expressed that while it is "bittersweet," their efforts provide a crucial opportunity for early detection that their son missed. The Department for Health and Social Care has acknowledged their "fantastic work" and confirmed that a public consultation regarding screening for young people is currently open.
This initiative underscores a critical gap in routine NHS cardiac screening for individuals under 40. The government is encouraging public input for the ongoing consultation, while also promoting first aid and CPR training. The Perkins' campaign offers a beacon of hope, ensuring other young lives might be saved through increased awareness and accessible screening.
