H·E·A·R·T UK's future
H·E·A·R·T UK's objective is to develop the Charity as a household name at the forefront for support of those concerned about inherited cardiovascular disease and more specifically for those concerned or affected by familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) or inherited high cholesterol (IHC). Our Vision is to meet the hopes and aspirations of just those people and our Mission is to deliver a range of quality services both broadly and individually targeted.
The Charity confidently expects to make an increasing impact, from within its own field of medical expertise, upon the improvement of the Nation's health over the next five and ten years, and to make major contributions to the government roll out of Cascade Screening Centres across the UK.
As the UK moves progressively to a knowledge based society that demands the continual development of new and improved medical skills and medicines, the adoption of programmes that make better provision for early preventive treatment, is pro-actively paramount, and H·E·A·R·T UK will ensure that there is therefore, a major accent on children, child health and early prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The genetics of heart conditions is beginning, in the public arena, to be more broadly understood, and at the commissioning of Cascade Screening Trials in 2002, the then Minister of State for Health acknowledged that advances in human genetics will have a profound impact on the future of healthcare.
Without the basic foundation of personal well-being knowledge, the ability of people to recognise that they also are major players and partners in the overall better health of the Nation will be sorely missing. It is the duty of Patient Network organisations like H·E·A·R·T UK to address in partnership, this potential shortfall, and to help develop the advantageous role of the expert patient.
Through collaboration with Government, multidisciplinary industry and the public, the charity aims to continue to expand the patient learning market.
Without financial support, including donations, gifts, legacies, subsidies and sponsorship from persons, companies, trust funds, and government, H·E·A·R·T UK will not be able to realise its programmes, so where there are no conflicting interests, the Charity will continue to accept non-restrictive financial and pro bono support from pharmaceutical and food companies and other corporate body organisations. To ensure the long term existence and quality of the organisation, H·E·A·R·T UK will seek to achieve consistent continuity of income, which is well balanced between industry, enterprise, government and others. In so doing H·E·A·R·T UK will ensure the greatest level of transparency is realised and it will indeed look to providing the best possible example of this requirement so that no special favours or attributes are ordained upon any set organisation, party or person.
Future priorities