PEOPLE from ethnic minorities need to be advised to exercise and eat properly to prevent coronary heart disease, it was claimed today.

East Lancashire Health Authority member Jan Qureshi said there was widespread concern at the low rates of heart surgery being carried out on Asians in East Lancashire.

A top-level research project has revealed concern about access to cardiac services from the ethnic minorities, people over 65 and those living in deprived areas.

One major worry was the "communication difficulties" between some Asian patients and doctors which made the diagnosis of heart disease more difficult.

Mr Qureshi said: "We have to educate the Asian community about diet and exercise to try and address the problems of coronary heart disease.

"There are link workers in the hospitals who can act as interpreters which the cardiologists have access to.

"This issue needs further investigation."

The research has recommended better communication between family doctors and consultants in tertiary (specialist) centres.

It also wants guidelines to be drawn up between cardiologists, GPs and the health authority to help the referral process. East Lancashire patients are referred to hospitals in Blackpool, Manchester and Leeds for specialist heart surgery, including angiography and open heart operations.

Ten local patients have been waiting for specialist treatment for more than a year.

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