A scheme to combat heart disease among people in a deprived community near Wrexham is showing results just months after being set up.

Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt was visiting the Plas Madoc Heart Disease Project on Wednesday, in recognition of its pioneering work since it was established in January.

Minister Jane Hutt is visiting the project

The project has already achieved an above average rate of people stopping smoking - one of the major factors related to heart disease.

The estate is listed by the assembly government's Welsh Index of Deprivation as the third most deprived area in Wales.

Around 2000 people live on the estate - many of them unemployed - and without the support of a health centre.

Nurse Practitioner Sister Eiry Davies, who sees 300 patients on the estate a month as part of the innovative programme, said she was delighted by the results.

"The national target for cessation of smoking is 10% and already we're achieving higher rates," said Sister Davies.

"It's fantastic - many of the people living here have nothing else to turn to but cigarettes."

Drugs problem

A full audit of the results achieved in screening patients will be carried out once the practice has been running for a year, said Sister Davies.

As well as screening for risk factors associated with coronary heart disease, the project offers lifestyle and dietary advice. Exercise classes in the estate's leisure centre are also on offer.

A GP from the Llangollen practice five miles away visits daily while the nurse practitioner is available for consultation on the estate from nine till five daily.

She also undertakes visits to the local primary school, advising youngsters on the dangers of starting smoking.

"There is a huge drugs problem on the estate - some of which stems from people smoking.

"So we are trying to stop people at an early stage."

The initiative has the support of the assembly's £5m Inequalities in Health Fund which is backing 67 schemes in communities across Wales.

"The Plas Madoc project is an excellent example of how by improving access to services, local practitioners can work with people to improve their health," said Jane Hutt.