SINCE The Northern Echo launched its Chance To Live Campaign, much attention has been paid to the length of time people are having to wait for life-saving heart surgery.

Decades of under-investment meant that efforts to reduce waiting times to acceptable levels were not going to succeed overnight.

We must congratulate the Government for the commitment it has made to achieving the goals of our campaign.

Since 1999, the number of cardiologists has risen by 23 per cent and the number of surgeons by 12 per cent to help tackle the problem.

Over the next three years, £251m will be invested in new and improved facilities at hospitals throughout the country.

Today marks a significant step in efforts to cut waiting times to those enjoyed elsewhere in Europe.

From now on, no heart patient should have to wait more than six months for treatment. If treatment cannot be given in the NHS, patients can be treated in the private sector or overseas.

These standards represent a massive leap forward from the norm within the NHS just three years ago.

However, six months is still too long to wait. The Government acknowledges that fact.

We will continue to highlight the aims of our Chance To Live campaign until the NHS is a position to talk of waiting times in terms of days rather than months.

All-round triumph

MANY of us doubted the wisdom of taking the World Cup finals away from the football heartlands of Europe and South America.

We doubted whether it was wise to have two hosts for the tournament. We doubted the ability of two nations without a footballing tradition to generate the passion and fervour in keeping with the world's biggest sporting event.

Japan and Korea passed all tests with flying colours. In terms of colour and atmosphere, the 2002 World Cup has been the best ever.

While the tournament has not been the best in pure footballing terms, it was full of surprises and upsets which managed to retain interest across the globe for more than four weeks.

And it was fitting that the victors were Brazil, by far the best and most entertaining team in the tournament.