ARRANGEMENTS to send North-East heart patients abroad for surgery have moved a step closer.

Hundreds of letters will soon go out to patients waiting for heart surgery explaining how the Government's plan to speed up operations will work.

As part of these arrangements, the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, has appointed Louise Smyth, its first Patient Care Advisor. Her role is to act as the patient's champion and ensure that everything goes smoothly from start to finish.

While it is hoped that it will reduce waiting times, patients who are very ill or need complex surgery may not be able to take advantage of the scheme.

From next month the scheme will go live, which means that heart patients in the region waiting for six months or more will be offered the chance to go to another NHS or private hospital in the UK.

Because there is little spare capacity within British hospitals, it is expected that most patients will be offered the chance to have their operation abroad.

Greece, Germany, Spain and Belgium have all been lined up as destinations for UK patients.

National heart director Roger Boyle has said he expects agreements to be finalised by the end of the month. Dr Jim Hall, chief of cardiothoracic services at James Cook University Hospital, estimated that between 100 and 150 patients of the 450 on the waiting list would probably qualify for the scheme.

"Unfortunately, not all patients will be eligible for this option, due to their clinical condition. Some may actually choose to stay with their current hospital," he said.

Urgent patients will continue to be seen in a matter of days, weeks or months depending on their circumstances, said Dr Hall.

While the scheme is expected to free up some capacity at the hospital, Dr Hall said the really significant improvement in waiting times should occur next April, when the Middlesbrough hospital opens an extension to its heart unit.

He said he was optimistic that the extra consultants and nurses needed to staff the expanded unit would be appointed in time.

Recently, ten Spanish nurses, who are expected to work in the heart unit, joined the hospital.