Heart death rates in surgery could be probed

Health chiefs are set to investigate the recording of death rates among heart patients at a leading London hospital.

The Healthcare Commission is considering launching the probe into St Mary's in Paddington.

A number of inaccuracies have already been discovered in the recording of medical notes. In one set, 20 deaths out of a total of 241 operat ions were wrongly attributed to consultant Brian Glenville while he was in Israel on sabbatical. Sir Bruce Keogh, president-elect of the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, told The Guardian that the inaccuracies were "utterly inexcusable".

St Mary's said it was taking "urgent action" to improve its system but insisted it could identify who operated on each patient using the theatre log.