Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase cardiac screening for people with a familial risk of sudden cardiac death.

The UK National Screening Committee last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death in young people in December 2019. After carefully considering the evidence, the committee concluded that a screening programme in all young people under the age of 39 years old should not be offered in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/screening-for-risk-of-sudden-cardiac-death-not-recommended

Research showed that current tests are not accurate enough to use in young people without symptoms. Incorrect test results can cause harm by giving false reassurance to individuals with the condition, which may have been missed by the screening test, whilst individuals without the condition may receive a positive test result, which can lead to unnecessary tests and treatments.