GP practice launches Wales' first large-scale heart screenings

Calon Hearts, a cardiac prevention charity, believes a Cardiff partnership could pave the way for expanded community-based heart screening programmes across Wales.

The screening event, held at North Cardiff Medical Centre in partnership with Calon Hearts, is the first time a Welsh GP practice has hosted large-scale heart screenings in a primary care setting.

Heart screening appointments will take place on June 13 and 14 and are fully booked.

The charity said the model could be replicated in other communities, including Chepstow, where screening will take place later this month.

Sharon Owen, chief executive officer of Calon Hearts, said: "This is an exciting moment, not just for Cardiff, but potentially for the whole of Wales."

The next heart screening clinic will be held at Chepstow RFC on June 27.

Calon Hearts, which supports early detection and prevention of heart conditions, has already screened more than 34,800 people.

The charity has trained more than 600,000 people in CPR and has helped place more than 37,000 defibrillators in communities across Wales.

Screenings are free for people aged 15½ to 26, and subsidised for those aged 27 and over.