Rev Smith said a rehabilitation would have given him confidence
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A retired Devon clergyman who suffered a heart attack has criticised the lack of aftercare available in his area.
Rev Laurie Smith, of Tavistock, said exercise rehabilitation programmes such as a �60,000 pilot found in Kingsbridge could have boosted his recovery.
Rev Smith, 79, said: "That sort of care would have added confidence to the way I was approaching my recovery."
A South Hams and West Devon PCT spokesman said they hoped to introduce more programmes in the region.
But he said the money needed for rehabilitation would have to be deducted from other care.
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It would have given more confidence to my wife in the way she was caring for me
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He said: "Every pound spent on services such as cardiac rehabilitation is a pound we are not spending on mental health services or children's services.
"There are the difficult decisions we have to make in the NHS."
Peter Edwards, a 54-year-old cardiac patient who used the Kingsbridge leisure centre's dedicated exercise pilot programme after his operation, said: "When you have had heart trouble, your confidence is really knocked.
"I did wonder, because I had been very active beforehand, whether I was going to recover my self-esteem and fitness.
"The programme gave me both these two things back."
Mr Smith said a specific exercise rehabilitation programme could have helped his wife, Gwen, support his recovery.
"It would have given more confidence to my wife in the way she was caring for me."
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