A TEAM of health workers is helping the people of Handforth fight Britain's biggest killer - coronary heart disease.

Led by nurse Anne Long the Handforth Cardiac Rehabilitation Team (HCRT) has run a three-year campaign to put the 'heart back in Handforth'.

In her role as head practise nurse at Handforth Clinic, Anne and her colleagues have helped to put hundreds of cardiac patients on the road to recovery.

And incredibly not one of those patients, previous or current, has died in the last two years.

Anne said: "The whole process has proved an overwhelming success."

The innovative scheme is one of the first of its kind in the country and has been short-listed for a national award, described as the "medical version of the Oscars".

Next month Anne and her health team will be wined and dined at the Cafe Royal in London where they will attend a gala dinner at the Medicom Best Practise Awards. Winners, who receive a £5,000 first prize, will be announced on the night.

Anne said: "Patients have benefited because they are taken away from the hospital environment.

"They are much more at ease and find it easier to come to terms with the emotional problems this kind of experience can cause. "

Anne and auxiliary nurses Voe White and Angela Greensmith run the third phase of a special Cardiac Rehabilitation programme.

Patients who are diagnosed with serious cardiac problems, or who undergo major heart surgery, are referred to health visitor Helen Simmons when they are released from Macclesfield or Wythenshawe Hospital.

Helen visits patients at their homes to help them through the first crucial weeks of their recovery before accompanying them to the Handforth Clinic.

During the 10 week course at the clinic, patients and their carers are given advice about exercise and diet, as well as all important psychological and emotional support.

Patients also visit Wilmslow Leisure Centre where they are introduced to fitness instructor Penny Kirk.

Penny works for the council leisure services department and runs special exercise classes to take patients through the final stage of their recovery.

If you would like to find out more about the cardiac rehabilitation scheme then contact Helen Simmons on 01625 417925.