THE care of heart patients in Chorley has been boosted with the launch of a new hospital unit.

Chorley Hospital has just opened a new purpose-built, five-bed coronary care unit housing the latest state-of-the-art cardiac monitoring equipment for stabilising heart patients.

Specially qualified nurses with skills in advanced life support will staff the unit. Patients who are cared for there may also benefit from an expert cardiac rehabilitation team.

Coronary care will also have a team of doctors headed by one of the six consultant physicians.

Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust said: "The movement into the new unit heralds the start of further moves of the medical wards into fully refurbished and newly-designed facilities, allowing commencement of further services within the Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital."

Meanwhile, the Lancashire and Lakeland Radiotherapy Unit at Royal Preston Hospital is scheduled to be handed over to the hospital by the end of November this year, with the first patients being received in the Spring of 1997.

The new unit will treat local cancer patients, thus doing away with the long journey to its 'parent unit' Christies in Manchester.

Top quality staff, medical and nursing, are still being appointed. A consultant radiologist, clinical director for radiotherapy and medical oncologist, will all be recruited soon.

Christies will give clinical and technical support for an envisaged period of five years.

Ann O'Brien, press and public relations officer for the Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "It is all very exciting for the Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and the people of Lancashire and South Cumbria."

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