Heart op figures confirm wait has been cut.

(From The Northern Echo)

Byline: BARRY NELSON Health Editor

PATIENTS needing heart surgery can now expect to have their operation within weeks of seeing a surgeon, according to hospital bosses.

The past few years has seen the transformation of heart surgery services at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Thanks to massive investment, creating extra operating theatres and ward space and appointing more specialist staff, long waits of up to 18 months for heart surgery are a thing of the past.

Seven months ago, The Northern Echo exclusively revealed that no one in the region was waiting longer than three months for …