THE chances of surviving heart bypass surgery are lower than the national average for patients attending a leading North-west heart hospital -- according to a survey published today.

South Manchester University Hospitals Trust, which includes the renowned Wythenshawe Hospital, has the second highest average death rate for heart by-pass patients in the country.

It is beaten only by Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.

The Manchester trust, which treats many patients from across the North-west, including those from Bolton, has a mortality ratio of 172. The national average is 100.

It is the first survey of its kind which takes into account the ages of patients, their condition and social deprivation and provides evidence that some hospitals may not be using modern surgery techniques.

Shadow health spokesman Liam Fox said: "These statistics again highlight the crisis in the NHS under Labour.

"They are bad enough in themselves, but there are some parts of the country where medical outcomes are unacceptably poor."

There are two procedures used for coronary heart disease -- which is the UK's biggest killer, claiming 135,000 lives every year.

One takes a vein from the leg and uses it to bridge the blockage, while the other re-routes the mammary artery in the chest to achieve the same result.