A HEART specialist from Burnley has been advising MPs on the best ways to treat serious cardiac problems.

Dr Ravi Singh, a consulant cardiologist for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, was invited to Westminster to address a cross-party group of politicians.

He was talking in support of the new Advancing Quality initiative, which encourages health trusts to find more cost-effective ways of improving patient care.

Two key areas are the initiative’s focus – heart attack and heart failure – along with hip and knee replacements and pneumonia sufferers.

The trust should already be in line for a cash boost to its cardiac services after being praised by the NHS initiative’s leaders.

Dr Singh said the initiative allowed clinicians to make sure there were no gaps in the basic care offered to patients.

He added: “Our excellent performance in this area will result in more investment, but more importantly it confirms that the cardiac care being delivered at the trust measures is above and beyond national standards.”