Campaigning and policy live chat 24 November 4-6pm

Got a burning question about the campaigning we do and our policies on heart health, but never known who to ask?

Well, get ready, because on Wednesday 24 November between 4pm and 6pm, Betty McBride - our Director of Policy and Communications - and Maura Gillespie - our Head of Policy - will be answering your questions live on our blog.

You could ask us why we’re campaigning for a ban on tobacco vending machines, or why we want to get women and heart disease in the news.

Why not ask what we’re doing to get results for heart patients from the new government, or what we think of their plans for the NHS?

Perhaps you’d like to know what we plan to do next year, or find out how to join our campaigns.

Whatever your question, ask it – we’re ready.

How do I ask a question?

Send your question to us on in advance or on Wednesday, at any time before 6pm:

• Email us your question to internet@bhf.org.uk

• Post it on the BHF Facebook page

• Tweet it with the hashtag #BHFQs.

Betty and Maura will try to answer as many of your questions as possible on the day. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hearts in Europe

Our Chief Executive Peter Hollins (pictured right) was in Brussels yesterday as President of the European Heart Network, to chair a conference organised by EHN and the European Society of Cardiologists.

Here's Peter's report on how the day went...

"The conference was discussing the outcome of Work Package 5 of the Euroheart project, run by ESC and EHN and part financed by the EU. Odd coming back as a visitor to the city in which I lived for six years.

"The project compares rates of heart-related deaths around Europe and looks at the policies which are in place to tackle heart disease.

"We had a reasonably good turn-out for the meeting, but were very pleased that both the EU Commissioner for Health and the Director General of the Directorate came.

"The UK is so-so in overall heart health terms, and I pointed out in my speech that everybody around Europe really knows what needs to be done to improve heart health, but the political will is lacking and there are some huge entrenched interests - particularly food, tobacco (still!) and to some extent big pharma who have a strong interest in the status quo.

"I pointed out that we need a much greater spend on prevention, consistent tobacco taxation across Europe and proper food labelling - and I have to be honest, I'm a bit evangelical about this!

"They are all going to come in the end, but the Commission made it quite clear that we have to be realistic about what the EU and national governments will do at a time of economic stringency."