AN Alderbury man who suffers from the inherited heart condition cardiomyopathy has joined a campaign to get services for families improved.

Chris Horwood, of Shute End Road, has lobbied Salisbury MP Robert Key to ensure new government standards of care for families with the heart muscle disease are implemented in the area.

The standards recommend that people suspected to have cardiomyopathy, or with a close family member who has the condition, have heart checks at dedicated clinics with staff trained in the condition's diagnosis, management and support.

The measures are designed to prevent young people dying suddenly from the illness, which is estimated to affect at least 1 in 500 people and cause several sudden deaths a week.

There are three main types of cardiomyopathy and, if it is discovered in time, people with the illness can be treated with drugs and surgery, with many going on to live full and long lives.

Father-of-three Mr Horwood (45), who had to give up his job as an investment banker because of his illness, said: "With more screening at specialist centres, more lives can be saved."

As a member of the Cardiomyopathy Associa-tion, which helped draw up the guidelines, Mr Horwood is keen to see the new measures acted upon quickly locally.

He said: "It is very important that families get the care and support they need, including health-screening by experts and genetic testing."

Salisbury District Hospital chief executive Frank Harsent told Mr Key that the hospital would be working closely with the primary care trusts to implement the guidelines, set out in a new chapter of the National Service Frame-work for Heart Disease.

He said that a local cardiac network sub-group would consider the chapter and advise on clinical, organisational and financial consequences before drawing up a detailed plan. An initial report would be produced in three months.

An implementation group would then oversee introducing the plan.

For more information, visit the Cardiomyopathy Association's website, www.cardiomyopathy.org, or call free on 0800 0181 024.