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Campaign inspired by photographer’s death ‘still saving lives’ 20 years on

A regional daily photographer whose premature death transformed heart bypass waiting times is “still saving lives today”, according to one health specialist.

The Northern Echo has marked 20 years since the death of Ian Weir, in whose name it shamed Tony Blair’s government into historic action.

Ian, who was just 38, died of a second heart attack at home in Darlington after waiting seven months for an urgent triple heart bypass operation.

While he was waiting for news of his operation, he wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister, asking how much longer he would be alive.

How the Echo covered Ian's letter to Tony Blair in 1999

How the Echo covered Ian’s letter to Tony Blair in 1999

Ian, who had first been diagnosed as having suffered a heart attacked after playing golf with Echo colleagues, died the day before he finally had an appointment to see a heart surgeon in Middlesbrough to discuss the timing of his operation.

His passing prompted the Echo to force the government into action, with heart bypass waiting times subsequently being cut from 12 months to three months.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Ian’s passing, Peter Barron, who was editor at the time, interviewed his widow Maggie and Professor Jerry Murphy, the heart specialist who treated him.

The Darlington-based Echo splashed on Peter’s interview in Saturday’s edition, pictured below.

Maggie told Peter: “It was a wonderful campaign. It was pitched right, asked the right questions, and applied the right pressure where it mattered.

“Ian shouldn’t have died, but others have a chance to live because of what happened to him – and that means so much.”

Professor Murphy added: “The case transformed heart disease in this country and there’s no doubt Ian’s legacy is still saving lives today.”

Peter told HTFP: “[Ian’s death] sparked a national outcry and led to the government cutting heart bypass waiting times in line with the rest of Europe.”

He added: “I look back on it as the most important campaign during my 18 years as editor of the Echo.”

Ian Weir front

 

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