Use wind farm money for DNA tests on islanders for illnesses like 'Celtic Curse', says Labour MP

Torcuil Crichton believes it could put the Western Isles 20 years ahead of the rest of the country

Wind farm development money in the Western Isles should be used to revolutionise health care by giving islanders early warning of medical conditions, a Labour MP has suggested.

Torcuil Crichton, the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, has called for all islanders to be offered DNA tests to determine if they have inherited medical conditions. He claims gene mapping of the whole island's population could save lives and put the area 20 years ahead of the rest of the country in health care.

Wind farms, like most renewable projects, generate a "community benefit fund" for locals.

Mr Crichton made the appeal after a ground-breaking DNA study discovered the Western Isles is a hotspot for haemochromatosis, otherwise known as the ‘Celtic Curse’ - an inherited genetic condition that leads to an overload of iron in the blood.

Torcuil Crichton, Labour's candidate on the campaign trail

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 wind farm developments.”

The “Viking Genes” DNA study by Professor Jim Flett Wilson, from Edinburgh University, took DNA samples from islanders across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

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, Prof 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 to 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.

Professor Wilson has recommended islands-wide screening | Getty Images

“Prof 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.”

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.”