A LEADING health campaigner who underwent emergency heart bypass surgery today blasted the growing list of East Lancashire patients waiting for life-saving cardiac operations.

Frank Clifford, chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CHC health watchdog group, said: "We don't want people dying on us."

His comments follow the case of 62-year-old Blackburn grandmother Mary Duxbury who has already waited 12 months and could have to wait a further 18 for triple heart bypass surgery.

Mrs Duxbury said: "I have been patient and waited my turn but if I have to wait another 18 months I don't think I will last that long."

Her wait for life-saving treatment has been caused by the length of waiting lists at Blackpool Victoria Hospital to where East Lancashire heart patients are referred. Mr Clifford, who 12 months ago had a quadruple heart bypass at Blackpool, said: "There are delays and it's unacceptable. It's something I've raised a number of times with East Lancs Health Authority.

"There is a need, and I accept it and I don't know why other people won't accept it. They can't manage on what they've got. They need additional resources.

"It's affecting a life-threatening situation at the most acute end, compared with delaying the cosmetic or uneventful work.

"The problem is getting worse and it's a worry. Much much more money needs to be put into cardiology services and it needs to be new money rather than moved from other areas."

Mr Clifford said cardiology would be one of the CHC's highest priorities over the next 12 months following a review of its work over the past year.

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