The wife of a seriously ill heart patient is calling for more Government cash to be spent on research into an experimental operation.

Sue Dickens says the extra money is needed to carry out more tests on an artificial heart pump operation which could save people's lives without the need for a transplant.

Her husband, Jurgen Baumgardt, is critically ill in hospital waiting for a heart transplant and could die unless one is found in the next few weeks.

Mr Baumgardt, 54, hoped to have a permanent artificial pump placed in his heart but the operation is still at an experimental stage in this country and has only been used on a few patients.

His story was featured in The Argus last month after Mrs Dickens became distraught at how long it was taking to get treatment for her husband.

Mr Baumgardt was diagnosed with myocarditis and polymyocitis when he was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton in June.

The damage to his heart left it pumping at only ten per cent strength and without an operation he will die.

Mrs Dickens, of Stoneham Road, Hove, said: "It is clear that more money needs to be spent on research into this new heart pump procedure so it can be extended further.

"There are people dying because they can't get a heart for transplant so it makes sense to invest money into a procedure that may be able to help more people survive."

The couple's hopes were raised when a heart was found for Mr Baumgardt at the end of last month.

But shortly before the operation was due to go ahead, it was found the heart was at risk of developing a disease so could not be used.

Mrs Dickens said: "Everything was ready to go ahead but then it had to be called off again which was obviously very disappointing.

"We now have to keep on waiting in the hope that there will be future developments."

In the meantime Mrs Dickens is planning to contact local MPs to ask them to raise her concerns in Parliament.