Burnham calls for change to NHS guidance after Muamba collapse

The issue of cardiac screening to young people who might be at risk has received public attentions following the sudden collapse of Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba from a cardiac arrest during a match last month.

Every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy young people, age 35 and under, die from undiagnosed cardiac conditions. 80 per cent of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms.

Andy Burnham, the former Health Secretary who now shadows that role, has backed the CRY campaign.

"The loss of these young people in their prime causes absolute devastation for their families and yet I believe there is more we could do to prevent most of these deaths," he said.

"I believe the current screening policy is out-of-date and based on a number of flawed assumptions."

CRY claimed that "a lack of awareness about the importance of screening will inevitably mean that young people will continue to die from the often preventable conditions that can cause sudden cardiac death in young people".

Read a full interview with Dr Steve Cox, director of screening at health charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, about how Fabrice Muamba's ordeal could 'help save lives'.