HEART patients provided living proof of the success of pioneering work being carried out in the region when they spoke of their recoveries at an inaugural cardiac conference.

Technical innovations, such as cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers, and teams dedicated to providing support, are allowing patients to live near-normal lives, delegates at the Coast to Coast Cardiac Network event heard.

Derek Easby, 58, told an audience of health professionals about his life since he was fitted with a cardiac defibrillator in 2001.

"I was apprehensive at first until a cardiac nurse explained to me and my wife how it would save my life," he said at the Sharing Success, Look to the Future conference at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, County Durham.

"In the early days, I used to become breathless and sweaty and there were activation problems that caused me anxiety and stress. I felt worn out and tired and stayed in bed."

Since then, Mr Easby, of Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, has had a second heart box fitted and another operation, which have helped his condition.

His wife, Hazel, said: "His heart problems have had a massive impact on family life, but the back-up from the heart team has been fantastic and we couldn't have lived without it.

"We were thrown into the deep end, knowing nothing about heart disease, but we just pick up the phone, talk to someone about it and get the support we need."

The Easbys were among many patient and health professionals to address the major conference, designed to highlight the pioneering work in cardiac care being carried out in the North.

The event was staged by the Coast to Coast Cardiac Network, set up in 2002 to co-ordinate coronary care for patients in Tees Valley, County Durham and North Cumbria.