IT'S time to step up and save Suffolk lives.

Rebecca Lefort

IT'S time to step up and save Suffolk lives.

National heart tsar, Professor Roger Boyle, will today visit the county as part of a make-or-break review of heart attack care that has grave consequences for healthcare in Ipswich and beyond.

And as he begins his tour The Evening Star can explosively reveal that fresh doubts have been raised about the controversial plans from a top national expert.

Professor Steve Goodacre, who evaluated the national study which has been used by health bosses in the East to justify sending patients out of the county for emergency treatment, has cast extra controversy over the move by revealing that Suffolk patients may be better off treated nearer home rather than whisked to far-flung centres.

His comments add to the growing number of concerns expressed from clinicians, patients, politicians, charities and the public about the shocking plans.

Today Prof Boyle must listen to each of them and decide once and for all to scrap the plans which will leave lives at risk.

- For the full story buy tonight's Evening Star and check later web editions for updates.