You may be aware of the above event which will be taking place for the third consecutive year under the auspices of the Arrhythmia Alliance. Awareness Week 2004 saw the announcement of a new Chapter for the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. The new Chapter, Cardiac Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death, was launched during Awareness Week 2005 and this year the emphasis will be on implementation. We will be attempting to keep the momentum behind the implementation of the new Chapter in England, and ensure that patients in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not discriminated against because of a lack of similar national imperatives in their respective countries.

The success of previous years has been enhanced greatly by the support of the clinical community throughout the UK, and we would like to suggest some ways in which you could support the event again this year.

1.      Write to your MP and invite them to visit your hospital during the Arrhythmia Awareness Week 12 - 19 September, to meet your colleagues and discuss the issues, local and national, surrounding the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, and the implementation of the NSF.  You can find out who your local MP is by visiting www.locata.co.uk/commons/

Please send us any responses.

2.      If you are based in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, please contact your local assembly member, bearing in mind the NSF for Coronary Heart Disease is relevant only in England, but the provision of services, especially in Scotland and Wales, is especially problematical.

3.      Arrange an event to support your work during the week.  You could use an existing forum such as a Grand Round or Post Graduate meeting, concentrating on the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias, or coordinate something with one of the partner charities.  Some are holding fundraising events, such as collections at local supermarkets. Please contact us if you would like details of local volunteers who would be willing to help.  If you have a local fundraising group, they could use the week to boost their funds.  Please inform us of any such activities.

4.      Work with your Trust Communications Manager to publicise the week and/or any events to local newspapers, radio and television news. A sample Press Release is available upon request.

To find out more details of Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2006 contact;

Arrhythmia Alliance, PO Box 3697 Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8YD

 info@aaaw.ork.uk

 01789 450787