A-A Ebulletin September 2006

Welcome to the September e-bulletin from the Arrhythmia Alliance. This month sees the launch of Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2006 so there's lots going on! There's also news on the UK Heart Rhythm Congress, the new Arrhythmia Allicance message board, new guidelines on ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation, key dates for your diary and much more. You'll also find links to the month's most relevant news stories from around the world. We're always glad to hear from you so if you'd like to contact us, please email info@arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk at any time.

Pass it on!
If you've found this bulletin useful, why not forward it to a friend, colleague or members of your group and make sure as many people as possible know about the Arrhythmia Alliance?

The Long-Term Medical Conditions Alliance (LMCA) is launching a policy network for people from any LMCA member organisation involved directly in policy work. The aim is to share knowledge, spread best practice and improve contacts; to provide a support network for policy workers to assist them with their working practice; and to help inform policy development. A meeting will be held at LMCA on Wednesday 6 September at 12.30, chaired by Sarah Clarke, LMCA's Policy Director.
To attend or to find out more, please email Sarah sarahclarke@lmca.org.uk or call 020 7813 3639. The LMCA is also involved in a new scoping project to examine how best to represent the voluntary sector's collective patient voice at a national level. Project manager Pippa Hague, on secondment from the NHS for 6 months, is working out of LMCA's offices 3 days a week and can be contacted at pippahague@lmca.org.uk

A key NHS objective is to deliver an 18-week patient pathway from GP referral to the start of treatment by the end of 2008. A new website supporting the service provides access to information to help with implementing the changes; details of initiatives around the NHS that are already achieving improvements in the patient's journey; case studies to allow the sharing of best practice; and programme resources, including presentations and reports. Registered users of the site will also have access to an interactive forum and an email newsletter. Find out more at http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/public/default.aspx


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Welcome to September's Arrhythmia Alliance e-bulletin
Welcome to the September e-bulletin from the Arrhythmia Alliance. This month sees the launch of Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2006 so there's lots going on! There's also news on the UK Heart Rhythm Congress, the new Arrhythmia Allicance message board, new guidelines on ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation, key dates for your diary and much more. You'll also find links to the month's most relevant news stories from around the world. We're always glad to hear from you so if you'd like to contact us, please email info@arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk at any time.
Be at the launch of Arrhythmia Awareness Week at the RCN
Arrhythmia Alliance is joining forces with The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to launch Arrhythmia Awareness Week (AAAW). The launch will take place at the RCN in London on Monday 11 th September from 5pm till 7pm. Places are limited, so if you'd like to attend please email info@arrhthymiaalliance.org.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. It's not too late to get involved in AAAW and help to raise both awareness of arrhythmia AND vital funds. There are so many ways you can help - find out more at http://www.aaaw.org.uk/
Countdown to UK Heart Rhythm Congress
	Only a few days left before the UK Heart Rhythm Congress 2006 - the first combined meeting of the Arrhythmia Alliance, Heart Rhythm UK and other medical and patient groups interested in cardiac arrhythmias. With presentations, lectures and a trade exhibition, this lively and wide-ranging event runs from 19 to 21 September. Find out more at http://www.ukheartrhythm.org.uk /	Pass it on! If you've found this bulletin useful, why not forward it to a friend, colleague or members of your group and make sure as many people as possible know about the Arrhythmia Alliance?
Get talking on the new A-A message board!
The Arrhythmia Alliance has just set up a Message Board for A-A members where you can post messages to other members and receive replies. It's a great way to ask for advice, exchange views, offer support and make contact with others. To join in, just click on the link below, then click on “Join this Group” and get talking! http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/heartrhythm-AA/
Check out the A-A website
If you haven't seen it lately, take a look at our Arrhythmia Alliance website . It has been updated to include new pages including the following downloads: All patient information booklets; All DoH approved care pathways; Information on the NSF Implementation Board and the latest information and updates from NICE & CVDSL. Also available under 'Cardiology News' are the latest news headlines about cardiology and cardiovascular matters and medical devices. It is updated daily, with stories provided by Medical News Today
New guidelines for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death
The 2006 Guidelines for Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) have been released by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). The purpose of this document is to update and combine the previously published recommendations into one source approved by the major cardiology organisations in the United States and Europe. The executive summary will be published in the September 5, 2006 issues of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, and the first September issue of the European Heart Journal (Eur Heart J 2006;27:2099-2140). The full-text guideline is published in Europace and e-published in the same issue of the journals noted above, as well as posted on the ACC ( http://www.acc.org ) AHA ( http://www/americanheart.org/ ) and ESC ( http:///www/escardio.org/ ) sites.
New policy network and project representing patients' voices
The Long-Term Medical Conditions Alliance (LMCA) is launching a policy network for people from any LMCA member organisation involved directly in policy work. The aim is to share knowledge, spread best practice and improve contacts; to provide a support network for policy workers to assist them with their working practice; and to help inform policy development. A meeting will be held at LMCA on Wednesday 6 September at 12.30, chaired by Sarah Clarke, LMCA's Policy Director. To attend or to find out more, please email Sarah sarahclarke@lmca.org.uk or call 020 7813 3639. The LMCA is also involved in a new scoping project to examine how best to represent the voluntary sector's collective patient voice at a national level. Project manager Pippa Hague, on secondment from the NHS for 6 months, is working out of LMCA's offices 3 days a week and can be contacted at pippahague@lmca.org.uk
New website on the 18-week patient pathway
A key NHS objective is to deliver an 18-week patient pathway from GP referral to the start of treatment by the end of 2008. A new website supporting the service provides access to information to help with implementing the changes; details of initiatives around the NHS that are already achieving improvements in the patient's journey; case studies to allow the sharing of best practice; and programme resources, including presentations and reports. Registered users of the site will also have access to an interactive forum and an email newsletter. Find out more at http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/public/default.aspx
Join a Guideline Review Panel at NICE
The Centre for Clinical Practice and the Patient and Public Involvement Programme at NICE are looking to recruit a new lay member to one of our Guideline Review Panels. NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health. The Guideline Review Panels have a crucial role in independently validating the methods by which the Centre develops its clinical guidelines and in monitoring their quality. You can find more details about the role and on how to apply at http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=351121 . If you have any other questions, please contact philip.alderson@nice.org.uk .
New atrial fibrillation guideline, plus hopeful new research
A new national clinical guideline for management of atrial fibrillation in primary and secondary care has been developed by the National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions at the Royal College of Physicians. The guideline covers aspects of diagnosis and the management of AF in a number of different circumstances. Many of the recommendations relate to control of AF and the important decision of whether to attempt to restore sinus rhythm or concentrate on control of the heart rate. To order your copy call 020 7935 1174 ext 358 or visit http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/brochures/pub_print_AF.htm Also, new data published in the July Issue of the American Heart Journal (2006:152:86-92), show that candesartan cllexetil is the first angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) to significantly reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a wide spectrum of heart failure patients (including those with preserved, as well as reduced, left ventricular systolic function) when added to contemporary therapy.
New EC health website
The European Commission has launched a health-related website for people who want to keep informed about issues affecting their health, and for those who want to keep up to date with policies and decisions taken at European, national and international level. The aim is to permit greater involvement of individuals and organisations in the health sector by facilitating consultation and participation. You'll find the website at http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/index_en.htm
Forthcoming events
Heart Rhythm Congress 2006 - 19-21 September 2006. Register now at http://www.ukheartrhythm.org.uk/html/registration.html or call 01789 450 787. Defibrillators Information Seminar - 23 October 2006, MHRA, Vauxhall, London UK Half-day defibrillators training and information seminar for nursing staff, paramedics, resuscitation training officers and community defibrillation officers. Register online at http://www.mhra.gov.uk/mhra/conferences/register.htm email mhraconferences@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or call 020 7084 2903 AntiCoagulation Europe Conference, Birmingham University,26-27 April 2007. Registration for patients £10 a day. Early bird registration for healthcare professionals is £60 a day or £100 for 2 days for applications received before February 2007 (thereafter £80 and £120). For a registration form, please contact anticoagulation@ntlworld.com
Here's a selection of items of interest from the internet. Please note that these are external links and we bear no responsibility for their content. You may need to register to access these sites.
Light To Moderate Drinking Reduces Risk Of Cardiac Events, Death - Science Daily (press release) - USA Why Heart Trouble - Wall Street Journal (subscription) - New York,NY,USA New Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines Emphasize Stroke Prevention - MedPage Today - Little Falls,NJ,USA One in five AEDs affected by safety alerts and recalls - TheHeart.Org - New York,NY,USA New ACC appropriateness criteria guide use of CT, MR for cardiac ... - TheHeart.Org - New York,NY,USA Shocking to Their Systems: Thousands of Heart Patients Have Had to ... - International News Service - Sydney,Australia Need for more defibrillators in society outlined - Connaught Telegraph - castlebar,Ireland MP's first response is praise - Buxton Advertiser - Buxton,England,UK arrhythmia alliance - available resources from Patient UK Moving Biotechnology Closer To Replacing Electronic Pacemakers - Medical News Today (press release) - UK Imaging method cuts esophageal injury risk - United Press International - USA Consensus Guidelines Simplify ICD Recommendations - MedPage Today - Little Falls,NJ,USA Divers claim world record for longest scuba dive - Dive Magazine - Surrey,UK Cardiovascular Safety Warning Added for Stimulants for ADHD - MedPage Today - Little Falls,NJ,USA Medtronic Statement Regarding the Clinical Benefits of ICD Therapy ... - Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA Mums' heart screen quest - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston,England,UK An irregular heartbeat makes exercise deadly - EurekAlert (press release) - Washington,DC,USA Epidemic of Deadly Atrial Fibrillation is Here - Forbes - USA
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