HEALTH officials last night moved to reassure North-East heart transplant patients following an inquiry into high death rates at a London hospital.
On Saturday, Health Secretary Alan Milburn ordered an investigation after it was revealed that eight out of ten patients given new hearts at St George's Hospital since December had died from complications within 30 days.
The Freeman Hospital, at Newcastle, along with St George's, is one of seven units for heart and lung transplants in the country.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "This inquiry affects no one but St George's, and has no impact whatsoever on the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle.
"There is no reason for patients of the Freeman, or their relatives, to have cause for concern."
Mr Milburn has appointed the Commission for Health Improvement to oversee the investigation.
A review by St George' Healthcare Trust has revealed no common factor for the death rate.
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