Hong Kong party to learn about FANS

Published On Tue 27 Sep 2016 by Grant Hill

The University of Dundee will tomorrow receive a delegation from Hong Kong visiting Scotland to learn about a clinical service that aims to cut the number of young people dying from inherited cardiac conditions.

The Familial Arrhythmia Network Service of Scotland (FANS) will welcome Professor David Siu and Dr Jo Jo Hai from the cardiology Department of the University of Hong Kong to the University’s School of Medicine, based at Ninewells Hospital on Wednesday, 28^th September. They will also be visiting regional FANS centres throughout Scotland throughout the week.

The objective of their visit is to observe how patients and families at risk of sudden death from inherited cardiac conditions can be cared for effectively, based on the template of patient care developed in Scotland through FANS.

‘Familial arrhythmia’ is an umbrella term covering a wide variety of electrical diseases of the heart. These diseases, which give rise to abnormal heart rhythms, can in some cases become life threatening and are a leading cause of sudden death in young people.

FANS was formed in 2007 by Dundee’s Dr Anna Maria Choy along with colleagues from across the country in order to care for patients and families affected by inherited conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac death in a young person.

She said, “We are delighted to be welcoming Professor Siu and Dr Hai to Scotland to demonstrate the work we do to help people affected by inherited cardiac conditions. FANS is a unique clinical service that engages at a national level to inform policy makers and health care decision makers, at a regional level working with health boards to improve patient pathways and delivery of service, and locally in delivery of direct patient care.

“It is a model with a proven record of success and one with the potential to save lives in other healthcare services around the world.”

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384768
Mobile: 07854 953277
Email: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk