We’re very excited to welcome back Harriet Mulvaney as a Trustee.
Harriet joined the Trustee Board in 2018 and served for five years, stepping down in 2023. During that time, her work centred around raising awareness of SCAD and supporting patients, mainly in Wales, where she lives, but also as a Buddy supporting new patients.
Mum of three, Harriet had her first SCAD in November 2014 and, like many patients, searched for information about the condition. She was 44 and felt isolated and traumatised and had a long list of questions that no-one seemed to be able to answer. A second SCAD in 2022 came as a surprise, but thanks to the relentless work of Beat SCAD in the preceding 8 years, the medical team caring for her were well prepared and acted swiftly.
Over the past few years, she has made great connections with cardiac rehab teams and paramedics, attended meetings and given talks to these healthcare professionals, raising awareness and educating people about SCAD.
As she returns as a Trustee, she plans to continue this work, highlighting the challenges faced by SCAD patients in Wales at the highest levels. Patients have limited access to specialist care and often find they have to fight to get a referral to a SCAD specialist over the border in Leicester or London.
Harriet says: “Patients i n Wales affected by SCAD can face avoidable delays in diagnosis, unequal access to specialist care and limited post-event support. Improving recognition, care pathways and psychological recovery offers NHS Wales and Welsh Government a clear opportunity to reduce inequity, improve cardiac outcomes, and align with national commitments on women’s health and cardiovascular prevention.”
We are delighted Harriet has returned as a trustee and look forward to supporting her in her plans to improve awareness and outcomes for SCAD patients in Wales.
Beat SCAD Trustee Chair, Rebecca Breslin, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Harriet back to the board. Her deep understanding of our mission and long-standing commitment to patients across Wales will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our governance and deliver projects that make a meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by SCAD. Harriet's return comes at an important time for the charity, as we begin our second decade of operation, and we’re excited for the impact we’ll create together.”
