Peter Lamb MP gives support to British Heart Foundation’s Keep Us Beating campaign

Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley met with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to discuss how to tackle the world’s biggest killer.

To mark 65 years of BHF, the charity has placed 65 benches across the country - each representing a powerful real-life story of someone who is still here to enjoy life thanks to research into prevention, treatment and cure for heart conditions.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the UK’s biggest killers causing more than a quarter of all deaths; or one person every three minutes. Since BHF was established, the annual number of deaths from CVD in the UK has fallen by nearly half. BHF-funded research has been central to many of these breakthroughs, placing the UK at the forefront of global cardiovascular science.

Peter Lamb MP heard about the charity’s ‘Keep us Beating’ campaign, which has the clear goal of reiterating the need to prevent heart disease before it starts, help people live longer, healthier lives and ultimately keep more hearts beating. By shining a spotlight on cardiovascular research, the charity says MPs can help unlock the next era of lifesaving breakthroughs.

The Government has rightly recognised cardiovascular disease as a major health priority through the 10-Year Health Plan for England. This set out important ambitions to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. Included is the desire to reduce premature deaths from heart attack and stroke, which contributes to the 47,000 premature deaths in the UK caused by CVD.

Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley, said: “I’m pleased to join the BHF in highlighting the importance of the heart and the lifesaving research that is helping people live longer, healthier lives. In Crawley in 2022, there were 190 premature cardiovascular disease related deaths.  It is deeply concerning that more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK are linked to cardiovascular disease, yet it has not consistently received the research focus that reflects its impact on patients, families and the NHS.”  

“That is why I support the BHF’s call for cardiovascular disease to be recognised as a national research priority. Backing world-class cardiovascular research is essential to driving new discoveries, improving treatments and care, and helping to prevent heart attacks, strokes and other devastating conditions.”

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the BHF, said: “Cardiovascular disease can affect anyone. Young, old, men, women, even the seemingly fit and healthy. In 65 years of BHF, we’ve helped fund game-changing treatments and cures that have helped keep countless families together.”

"But too many lives are still being cut short, and progress in tackling the world’s biggest killer is slowing.”

“We urgently need to unlock the next generation of lifesaving discoveries. By backing cutting-edge science today, we can help deliver new treatments and better care faster, giving more people precious time with the people they love.”