Wales has particularly high levels of cardiac problems

Nearly �1m has been earmarked by the assembly government to build the unit at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

But Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust said there was a funding gap of about �500,000 to pay for staff.

Health Minister Brian Gibbons said running costs were the responsibility of local healthcare commissioners.

The trust said the cardiac unit had to be built to comply with the assembly government's decision in 2001 that every district hospital in Wales should have one by the end of 2002.

Cut back on some services, or axe some services Health official Brian Thomas' warning

But the trust said it had still not received the capital funding to begin developing it, reported BBC Wales' Maniffesto, broadcast on S4C.

Bronglais remains the only district hospital in Wales without a dedicated coronary care unit.

Specialist nurses

The assembly government has now earmarked nearly �1m for the project, and has also promised money to pay for a cardiologist.

But according to the trust, there was an annual funding gap of about �500,000 a year for specialist nurses and technical staff.

In a statement, the trust's head of corporate services Brian Thomas said that if the issue was not resolved it might "have to cut back on services, or axe some services".

Bronglais is Wales' only general hospital lacking a dedicated coronary unit

Mr Thomas said this would depend on negotiations with the local health board.

Ceredigion assembly member Elin Jones accused the assembly government of acting irresponsibly over an issue "where lives are at stake."

The Plaid Cymru AM told Maniffesto: "The (assembly) government are prepared to make statements on paper, but have refused to provide the money to realise those statements."

In an answer to a written assembly question on the issue health minister Brian Gibbons said the trust's business case for the unit was expected this month.

"Capital funding of �0.95m has been set aside for this development," he said.

"The running costs of the proposed unit are the responsibility of the local healthcare commissioners.

"The assembly does not detail revenue for specific schemes. It allocated overall amounts to the local health board and it is its responsibility to commission services within that budget figure".