NOT before time, Councillor Frank Clifford, chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council, is looking into the scandalous state of the cardiology services across the North West (LET, June 7). I wish him luck.

The situation in Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley is just as bad, if not worse, than in his own area. And the problem begins with the GPs.

Ten years ago, I had a serious heart attack. That came after five successive days of visits to a GP practice complaining of pains in the chest. The practice's electrocardiograph machine was clapped out, did not pick up any problems and I was sent home to rest - which I was doing when the Grim Reaper called.

Thankfully, I made a full recovery and, until two years ago, lived normally. Since then, I have had two more heart attacks. After both of these, I asked my Blackburn consultant about heart bypass surgery, but was told that I did not yet need it.

However, further consultation (private this time) with one of the North West's premier cardiologists elicited the opinion that an artery was blocked solid and an angiogram was an immediate necessity - "yesterday would not be too soon." He said I could have it done 'tomorrow' for £1,500, but would also need another £12,000 to £13,000 in case he did not like what he saw and needed to carry on with full heart bypass procedure.

I do not have a problem with private treatment although I prefer to spend my money on other things, especially since the treatment is not without risk of fatality. I hesitate to authorise a cheque for almost £15,000 and then qualify for a chat with St Peter when I could, and probably will, get there free.

However, the recent sad case, highlighted in the national press, of a young father who died waiting for an appointment with a consultant, revealed that, a couple of months after his first heart attack, he had an angiogram. He lived in the North East.

In Lancashire, the situation is that I am on a waiting list for an angiogram and have been told that it might be November or December before I get to the top. This, mark you, for an investigation that last year was said to be so urgent it should have been done 'yesterday'. Now I know there are lots of people worse off than me. I know we have to count our blessings and I have many.

I am not a whinger. I did, but no longer, smoke. I have lost two stones in weight. In the 10 years since my first attack, I have walked thousands of miles in an attempt to keep the heart muscle as healthy as possible. I do not claim sickness benefit, nor have I for the last 10 years. I am self employed.

But what I want to know - and would like Coun Clifford to find out, is this: how can it be that after three years of New Labour, queues for life saving treatment are as long, if not longer, as they ever were, and yet, for £15,000 up front, the same treatment can be had privately within 48 hours?

I realise, of course, that all governments have their priorities and that money doesn't grow on trees.

But how can it be that this country, which has spent hundreds of billions of pounds bombing the Serbs, is prepared to see thousands of patients die waiting for heart surgery or cancer treatment, while it continues to quite blatantly lie about the success of the NHS under New Labour?

The NHS is a sick joke. But laugh? You'll probably die laughing!

Name and address received

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