A NEW blood test for heart failure will boost patient care in Darlington after health officials secured funding worth more than £25,000.

The testing service, called B-type Natriuretic Peptide is being introduced by Darlington Primary Care Trust.

It will reduce the need for patients with suspected heart failure to be admitted to hospital for tests, because blood can be taken at the GP's surgery and sent away to be screened for a substance which is released by the body if there is a degree of heart failure present.

If the results come back negative, heart failure can be ruled out. If they are positive the patient can be referred for assessment to the heart failure service.

Heart failure affects the pumping chambers of the heart but does not always result in a heart attack.

There are many symptoms, including breathlessness, lethargy and swollen ankles, although they vary from person to person.

Heart failure specialist nurse Vikki Duffy said: "Heart failure is a scary term and part of my role is to dispel the myths surrounding it.

"It is really exciting to think we can now start offering the test service.

"Some people get very anxious and this test will keep them out of hospital if they don't need to be there.

"If they do need to be there it will get them into the system quicker for a full assessment of what is going on."