Nick Thomas-Symonds MP backs British Heart Foundation mission to help everyone have a healthier heart for longer
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP for Torfaen met with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to discuss how to tackle the UK’s worrying reversal in cardiovascular health.
For the first time in over 50 years, deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are rising. In Torfaen, around 10,000 people are living with CVD.
This marks a major stalling of progress since the 1960s, during which advances in science and medicine helped halve annual deaths from heart and circulatory diseases. BHF-funded research has been central to many of these breakthroughs, placing the UK at the forefront of global cardiovascular science.
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP heard about the charity’s bold new strategy, which has three clear goals: prevent heart disease before it starts, save more lives, and help people live longer, healthier lives.
BHF are also entering an era of unprecedented scientific opportunity, with funded researchers using tools like AI to predict heart attacks up to 10 years in advance. The UK Government has committed to a Modern Service Framework for CVD as part of the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
In Wales, the British Heart Foundation also announced a new £3m co-fund agreement with Welsh Government to fund Wales’ National Cardiovascular Research Network. The five-year agreement means that Welsh researchers will be able to investigate key areas of unmet health and care needs in people with heart conditions such as arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), heart disease and vascular ageing.
During the party conference, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP met with BHF to discuss how MPs can support and work alongside them to capitalise on these opportunities, and realise their vision of a world where everybody has a healthier heart for longer.
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP for Torfaen said: “I’m pleased to join the BHF to hear their excellent work in ensuring everyone has a healthier heart for longer.
“It was a pleasure to visit the BHF store in Cwmbran to meet the staff and volunteers who do crucial fundraising work.”
“We all need to play our part in helping to tackle the UK’s rising tide of these deadly conditions. I look forward to working with BHF towards our shared ambition of reducing early deaths from heart attacks and strokes by a quarter within the next decade.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the BHF, said: “The UK’s heart health needs a serious reboot after years of stalling progress to prevent more families the intense pain of losing a loved one too soon to cardiovascular disease.
“Making the most of ideas in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, such as more integrated, personalised care, are key to the improvements we need to see.
“We can’t do this alone, so support from all political parties is critical to saving more lives from cardiovascular disease than ever before.”
