Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 December 2010
09 Dec 2010 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome
Yes, certainly. Those of my age can remember a certain footballer—I have forgotten his name for the moment—who, on being transferred to Manchester United, was found to have a heart murmur. The whole process was held up. As part of a contract of employment, the test may be mandatory, but we are talking about the much wider base of amateur sport.
As Jim Hume said, Italy has introduced much more general testing, which has been pretty successful. The question then arises of how many false positives there are, and how much distress is caused when conditions that are not serious are found. Both the person and their family can be put through considerable difficulty.
Although I very much welcome the debate, we have to be very careful about how we proceed. In that regard, I welcome in particular the programme that the Scottish Government has set up. It has already had an initial evaluation, which led to an extension, and will be further evaluated. We will see from that exactly how it proceeds. Obviously, the situation needs to be watched.
Organisations such as HART and CRY are essential to maintaining public interest and to ensuring that professionals do not simply dismiss SADS because it involves small numbers. It is important that the issue is looked at carefully.
Other measures can be taken on a much more general basis. We have heard about defibrillators in supermarkets. Indeed, I promoted the fact that the Thistles shopping centre in my constituency obtained two defibrillators and trained staff in using them. In my practice, we trained shopkeepers in the village so that they could undertake cardiopulmonary resuscitation. More general CPR of the sort promoted by the temperature post cardiac arrest—TOPCAT—programme in Lothian can produce benefit by way of allowing people to give rapid CPR until the appropriate staff arrive. We do not do rapid CPR well in Scotland at the moment. We need to extend such programmes.
Genetics are an important consideration. The future may lie in identifying and examining mutated genes. Further examination of ion channelopathies, as they are called, and the genetics that underpin them may make the condition not one that we have to debate every session of the Parliament but something that is dealt with by way of genetic testing, which may be easier in future.
17:27
As Jim Hume said, Italy has introduced much more general testing, which has been pretty successful. The question then arises of how many false positives there are, and how much distress is caused when conditions that are not serious are found. Both the person and their family can be put through considerable difficulty.
Although I very much welcome the debate, we have to be very careful about how we proceed. In that regard, I welcome in particular the programme that the Scottish Government has set up. It has already had an initial evaluation, which led to an extension, and will be further evaluated. We will see from that exactly how it proceeds. Obviously, the situation needs to be watched.
Organisations such as HART and CRY are essential to maintaining public interest and to ensuring that professionals do not simply dismiss SADS because it involves small numbers. It is important that the issue is looked at carefully.
Other measures can be taken on a much more general basis. We have heard about defibrillators in supermarkets. Indeed, I promoted the fact that the Thistles shopping centre in my constituency obtained two defibrillators and trained staff in using them. In my practice, we trained shopkeepers in the village so that they could undertake cardiopulmonary resuscitation. More general CPR of the sort promoted by the temperature post cardiac arrest—TOPCAT—programme in Lothian can produce benefit by way of allowing people to give rapid CPR until the appropriate staff arrive. We do not do rapid CPR well in Scotland at the moment. We need to extend such programmes.
Genetics are an important consideration. The future may lie in identifying and examining mutated genes. Further examination of ion channelopathies, as they are called, and the genetics that underpin them may make the condition not one that we have to debate every session of the Parliament but something that is dealt with by way of genetic testing, which may be easier in future.
17:27
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7393, in the name of Jim Hume, on sudden arrhythmia death syndrome—SADS. The debate wi...
Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD)
LD
I thank members who have remained behind to participate in the debate. I also thank those who signed my motion in order to make the debate possible. Among th...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate Jim Hume on bringing the debate to the chamber; I know that he has had a difficult day, so I congratulate him even more for staying the course...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, congratulate Jim Hume on securing this important debate, and pass on my condolences. He is determined to continue to press the issue in difficult tim...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased that Jim Hume has brought to members’ attention once again sudden arrhythmia death syndrome, and I congratulate him on securing the debate. I al...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, and I congratulate Jim Hume on obtaining it and on pursuing the issue. SADS is a pretty horrend...
Christine Grahame
SNP
I understand the member’s point about the mandatory aspect, but I seek his advice. Is it not the case that such tests would be mandatory for young men who we...
Dr Simpson
Lab
Yes, certainly. Those of my age can remember a certain footballer—I have forgotten his name for the moment—who, on being transferred to Manchester United, wa...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I, too, thank Jim Hume for introducing this very important debate. I recognise his very direct and personal interest in this serious and complex issue.The su...