DOCTORS in the region are to pioneer tests which could revolutionise the way all heart failure patients are treated.

If it is successful it could slash waiting times for potentially life-saving treatment and become standard practice across the UK.

A simple new blood test is now available which can rule out whether patients have heart failure.

Diagnosing heart failure is difficult and involves a series of hospital tests.

But so far, no one in the NHS is using the new test, even though it could cut out unnecessary hospital visits for large numbers of patients.

Now doctors in Darlington are planning to set up a special heart failure clinic to establish once and for all whether the new blood test is the best way to screen patients.

If the small-scale trial works well, the plan is to install blood test machines in every GP surgery in Darlington, so most patients avoid hospital. It will also mean that real heart failure patients will be seen earlier by specialists.

Dr Ahmet Fuat, a research fellow at Durham University who practises at the Carmel Medical Practice, Nunnery Lane, Darlington, is one of the main movers behind the test.

Working closely with Darlington Memorial Hospital heart specialist Dr Gerry Murphy, Dr Fuat has developed detailed proposals to make the best use of the new test.

Research by Dr Murphy has shown that up to 75 per cent of patients referred to Darlington Memorial Hospital with suspected heart failure have some other medical condition.

"The difficulty with diagnosing heart failure is that many other conditions produce similar symptoms," said Dr Fuat.

"Until now suspected heart failure patients have to go to hospital to have a heart scan. This is expensive and there are not enough technicians and specialist doctors to meet the demand," he said.

Yesterday Darlington Primary Care Group gave Dr Fuat the go-ahead to develop the project and he is confident that it will succeed. "To my knowledge, no one else in the UK is using this test for diagnostic purposes in primary care," he said.

"Currently you have to wait four months just for a heart scan.

"With the new test we are looking at four weeks before patients can begin treatment," he said.

Heart disease is Britain's biggest killer and death rates in the North-East are about 20 per cent higher than the national average.

During our award-winning A Chance To Live Campaign, The Northern Echo has been pressing the Government for a better deal for heart patients.

In Darlington alone 170 patients with heart failure were admitted to hospital last year.