FIONA Bruce MP is making a heartfelt plea to check for early signs of children’s heart conditions.

The Holmes Chapel MP is calling on parents across her constituency to check for warning signs of possible heart problems in babies and follow life-saving guidance from a leading children’s heart charity.

Mrs Bruce is supporting ‘Think HEART’, a campaign by the Children’s Heart Foundation (CHF), to increase the early diagnosis of heart conditions in children.

She said: “Every year, around 5,000 babies are born with Congenital Heart Disease, however, only a third are detected before birth, meaning babies with potentially lethal but treatable conditions leave hospital without being diagnosed.

“Delays in diagnosis cause distress, physical harm and can be life-risking.  This is why I encourage parents across the country to look out for the charity’s five Think HEART signs.”

Think HEART provides parents with five easy signs to help spot a heart problem.  Parents are encouraged to be aware of variations to heart rate (H), energy (E), appearance (A), respiration (R), and temperature (T).

As well as backing the Think HEART campaign, Mrs Bruce is also supporting the charity’s campaign for all babies to be tested for heart conditions at birth.  Pulse Oximetry is a quick and painless test that can detect over 90pc of life threatening heart defects in newborns.

Chief executive of CHF Anne Keatley-Clarke said: “We are grateful for Fiona’s support for increasing the early detection of heart conditions in babies. 

“Having all babies tested at birth will help save lives and we hope our Think HEART campaign will help more parents across the constituency spot the early signs of heart conditions so if needed, children can receive life-saving treatment early.”

For more information visit chfed.org.uk/thinkheart