ANNE Kaneen, MBE, has praised the high standards of care given to hundreds of heart attack patients on the Coronary Care Unit.

As chairman of Bolton's cardiac support group, she urges Bolton people to give as generously as they did in 1969.

She said: "I will do all in my power to support this appeal and would urge the residents of Bolton to do likewise, and be as generous as Boltonians were in 1969, when they helped to fund the unit."

Mrs Kaneen, a former senior sister on the coronary care unit, set up the town's support group for heart attack patients in 1990.

She said: "No one can criticise the unit. People can be reassured of the care that they receive. The team is first class."

But Mrs Kaneen admits that in a perfect world, the Government would provide the money for a bigger unit.

She said: "We should not be in a situation were we have to do these things to raise money.

"But because of the pressures of the NHS, it is inevitable that we have to fund it ourselves.

"The hospital is giving some money. Eventually, I am convinced that we will get a state of the art coronary care unit.

"But if people can have it in 2003, why wait until 2010?

"I feel so strongly that the people of Bolton deserve better, now."

Mrs Kaneen said that patients are forced to be nursed on less specialised wards because of the bed shortage.

She also believes a hi-tech unit will encourage more staff to join the hospital.

She said: "Having such a unit will encourage staff to come here. This sort of scenario won't be the complete answer to the hospital's prayers, but will attract people who will want to work on the new unit.

"This is a way forward for Bolton people."