Rhodri Sidesteps Healthy Hearts Question

4.28.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Mar 2007

Today in plenary Jenny Randerson AM asked the First Minister about Healthy Heart Clubs. Jenny said "He totally failed to address the question on Healthy Hearts Clubs such as the one in Llanishen. He failed even to express support for them. I am very disappointed as healthy heart centres can play a vital role in keeping people out of hospitals

"It is such a shame that they have to rely on lottery finding which is soon to end and may increasingly be drawn towards the Olympics.

"When we are talking about waste we always emphasise reduction as the first and most important step, why not apply that to illness?

"Members of Llanishen Healthy Hearts have contacted me about this. The club meets every week and provides several options fore exercise such as aerobics and swimming under medically trained supervision. Cardiac nurses also visit to provide support and guidance. The members regard this as an invaluable service that helps them to recover and stay fit. Yet the Trust and the LHB seem to have no plans to continue these clubs once lottery funding runs out."

Healthy Heart Centres were set up across Cardiff and the Vale to provide rehabilitation for heart attack patients. They were funded by lottery money which runs out in June this year and patients and staff fear that they will close.

Ends/diwedd

Contact/cyswllt: Andrew Sherwood - 029 2089 8324