CORONARY care in the North-East is to be held up as a shining example to the world at a major European health conference.

About 500 delegates from around the world will be told how a pioneering programme of care operated in Darlington has proved a boost for heart patients.

Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) launched its community angina rehabilitation programme in October 2001. Since then, about 640 people have been referred to the service and there have been only three deaths.

Now, the trust's clinical team leader for coronary heart disease services, Barbara Conway, has been asked to address the European Society of Cardiology and the Institute of Nursing Science.

The 20-minute address, at Basel University, Switzerland, will describe the package of care received by heart patients. She will outline a paper she wrote with Darlington Memorial Hospital's consultant cardiologist, Jerry Murphy, on the community angina rehabilitation programme.

Patients who develop angina, who are waiting for surgery or have had surgery, are referred to the eight-week care programme. They follow an angina plan, which offers support and information about relaxation and healthy lifestyles.

They are also encouraged to set personal targets for physical activity and use the borough council's leisure facilities.

Mrs Conway said. "It's a great honour for Darlington PCT to be represented at an international level. We are an example of good practice nationally - now we have extended that internationally."

Dr Murphy said: "This really is very exciting and a reflection of the innovative work being carried out by the team. To address this conference sends out a hugely positive message."