Windfarm development money in the Western Isles should be used revolutionise health care by giving islanders early warning of medical conditions.
Labour MP Torcuil Crichton has called for all islanders to be offered DNA tests to determine if they have inherited medical conditions.
The move to gene map the whole islands population of 27,000 to save lives and put the area 20 years ahead of the rest of the country in health care.
Mr Crichton made the appeal after a ground-breaking DNA study discovered that the
Western Isles is a hotspot for haemochromatosis, an inherited genetic condition which
leads to an overload of iron in the blood.
The disorder is often known as the “Celtic curse” because it is particularly prevalent in Celtic bloodlines and is common in people from as Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Mr Crichton said: “Everyone in the Western Isles should be screened for too much iron in their blood but also offered DNA tests to show what inherited conditions they might carry.
“This would be revolutionary; it would save money for the NHS in the short term and
the long-term. More importantly it would save lives and put us two decades ahead
of the rest of the country in preventative medicine, with the bill going to the community
payback from windfarm developments.”
The “Viking Genes” DNA study by Professor Jim Flett Wilson of Edinburgh University took DNA samples from islanders across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles and threw up amazing discoveries.
Analysis of the Orkney and Shetland data uncovered unique island cancer genes which led to participants being forewarned of their condition.
The full results for the Western Isles will be published later this month but already the study shows the islands are a hotspot for haemochromatosis and inherited high cholesterol which can lead to heart disease.
Based on the initial results Professor Wilson has recommended islands-wide screening
for the common blood condition but the Labour MP wants to go further.
Mr Crichton said: “In Orkney and Shetland analysis of these simple DNA tests uncovered rare cancers and lives were saved. In the Hebrides it looks like we should act on this spike in iron overload but also use DNA find out what other conditions people may have.
“The research should be paid for by the community funds from large-scale renewable
projects planned for the islands. We should use these funds to change peoples’ lives,
not just to reduce energy bills.”
Mr Crichton is one of the islanders who has haemochromatosis, the most common inherited genetic condition in Scotland which comes when both parents carry the rogue gene.
He said: “Luckily my siblings and I were spotted early and treated but undiagnosed the condition can lead to serious arthritic symptoms, to liver cancer and heart disease. The consequences are sometimes attributed to other conditions but spotted early they can be prevented.”
The ‘Viking Genes’ database holds information on around 10,000 people with at least two grandparents from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. The full Western Isles results will be available shortly.
Mr Crichton said: “Professor Wilson’s project is credited with saving lives in other islands. The figures for the Western Isles are a timely warning for screening for the blood condition which ought not to be expensive. But given the resources we could test for a wide range of conditions and help this generation and future generations of islanders live healthy lives.”
Crichton calls for DNA screening to detect ‘Celtic Curse’ type medical conditions amongst islanders
13 February 2025
