A PRESENTATION was given on Jack’s Appeal at a medical conference in Newport yesterday.

The annual Nursing and Midwifery Conference, organised by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), was held at the Christchurch Centre.

Among the speakers was Newport nurse Phil Hill who wants legislation introduced to have heart defibrillators available in every public place in Wales.

His plea comes on the back of Jack’s Appeal, which was launched in January of this year in memory of Oakdale 15-year-old Jack Thomas, who died suddenly of a previously undetected heart problem in February 2012.

The Argus-led appeal has an aim to put heart defibrillators in every secondary school in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley.

Earlier this year Mr Hill spoke at the Senedd in Cardiff alongside Jack’s mother, June, to discuss the possibility of a Jack’s Law being introduced and a debate on the issue is now due to take place in the Senedd chambers in November.

Yesterday, Mr Hill explained to about 200 medical professionals how Jack’s Appeal came about. Mrs Thomas was not able to attend but she was still able to address the conference via a video made with ABUHB backing.

After the emotionally-charged presentation, titled ‘Remembering Jack’, Mr Hill said: “It is an honour to have been invited here. It’s a shame June couldn’t make it but it’s almost better because we were able to do the video and show it to people. I want as many people as possible to watch this video – it’s a real tear-jerker.”

Since its launch, Jack’s Appeal has supplied more than a dozen schools in Gwent and the Rhymney Valley with a defibrillator and has raised more than £15,000 in the process, with the help of Welsh Hearts charity.

* There is now an easier way for Argus readers to donate to Jack’s Appeal. Simply go online and visit welshhearts.org/jacksappeal. Alternatively, donate by sending a cheque payable to 'Welsh Hearts' to Temple Court, 13a Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA. Put reference 'Jack Thomas defibs appeal' on the back of the envelope.