What is AAAW?
Background:
Arrhythmia Awareness Week gives anyone with an interest in heart rhythm disorders, their symptoms and effects, the opportunity to raise awareness and promote better understanding of arrhythmic conditions. Having an Awareness Week to focus on cardiac arrhythmic conditions means that efforts are concentrated and a larger impact is made. Supporters are encouraged to hold awareness displays and events, distribute informative materials, and participate in lobbying and media activities.
Aims:
The aims of the Awareness Week are to work together to:
- Raise awareness of heart rhythm disorders, their symptoms and effects amongst the general public and medical profession
- Promote rapid and accurate diagnosis of and effective treatment for heart rhythm disorders
- Encourage policy change to improve patient access to arrhythmia services and treatment
AAAW 2008:
AAAW 08 marks the fifth anniversary of the organisation’s annual awareness week. This presents Arrhythmia Alliance with a unique opportunity to expand on its usual activities whilst celebrating five years of the successful coalition. A date has been set for 9th-15th June, with World Heart Rhythm Awareness Day falling again on 13th June. Whilst AAAW is UK – focused, World Heart Rhythm Day aims to bring individuals and organisations together from across the world to highlight arrhythmias.
Background to AAAW:
The first Arrhythmia Awareness Week was held in 2004 following the formation of an alliance between charitable organisations with a common interest in arrhythmias. The aim of this formation was to lobby for the writing of a new Chapter on Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease. Before lobbying began, the word ‘arrhythmia’ was only mentioned once in the NSF; there were no guidelines dictating diagnosis, treatment or care for those with heart disorders relating to the ‘electrics’ of the heart.
Primarily due to awareness raising and lobbying activities and a successful reception in the Houses of Parliament, the new Chapter 8 on Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death was published in 2005.
Arrhythmia Alliance became a registered charity following the first Awareness Week to ensure that the Quality Requirements for diagnosis, treatment, care and support as written in the Chapter would be implemented across England.
Arrhythmia Alliance, The Heart Rhythm Charity, is a coalition of patients, carers, patient groups, charities, medical professionals and industry allies who all work together under the A-A umbrella to promote better understanding, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for individuals with cardiac arrhythmias.
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