CAMPAIGNERS are calling for routine cardiac screening in Scottish secondary schools after six young people were referred to their doctor with previously unknown heart conditions after undergoing random scans funded by a charity. 

The potential heart abnormalities were detected during electrocardiogram (ECG) tests at Harris Academy in Dundee and the North Inch Community Campus in Perth in June. The machine can identify irregular heart rhythms and electrical activity within minutes. 

Around 200 screenings were carried out by national charity, Cardiac Screening for the Young, on pupils aged 14 and over with local people up to the age of 35 also invited to take part. 

The event was funded with £7,000 from the Peter McAvoy Memorial Fund, set up by the family of the 22-year-old footballer from Dundee who died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition. 

The scans resulted in six students being referred to their GP after the tests identified a possible defect. 

The findings prompted 17-year-old Harris Academy captain, Abby Lang – who was given the all-clear – to seek a meeting with Health Minister Shona Robison today to ask her to consider rolling out cardiac screenings as a routine health check in schools.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our Heart Disease Improvement Plan sets out priorities on prevention, treatment and care for all people in Scotland living with heart disease. We will consider this campaign carefully, alongside UK National Screening Committee recommendations.”