THE local health authority has come second bottom in a national league for needless hospital admissions and deaths.

The shock findings emerged in a report, drawn up by a Sunday newspaper, using figures compiled by the Government.

In a total of six categories, Bury and Rochdale Health Authority came in the bottom ten out of the 100 authorities across the country.

But on a positive note, the authority shines in terms of hospital bed availability and the non-cancellation of operations.

And bosses say they are making real strides in their attempts to improve the health of local people.

The survey used figures gathered since 1997. They show Bury and Rochdale was the second worst authority in the country for needless admissions to hospital by a GP.

These involved patients with asthma, diabetes and epilepsy, all of which should be controllable at home by family doctors.

The authority's figure was 256 per cent above the national average and was based on 1997-98 statistics.

And Bury and Rochdale also came second bottom in the league of heart attack patients who died in hospital within 30 days of emergency admission. The authority's fatality rate came out 108 per cent above the national average.

Bury and Rochdale also had the fifth worst death rate for conditions which in theory should have been either preventable or curable, a level 40 per cent above the national average.

The authority also had the tenth highest rate of deaths from all causes, involving those aged between 15-64. The local figure, based on 1995-97 statistics, was 111 per cent above the national average. The table also shows that in only eight other authorities do more people die of heart disease and stroke, per year. Figures for the same period show Bury and Rochdale's level was 173, above the 133 national average.

But, better news for the people of Radcliffe, is that 99 percent of hospital patients are given a bed within two hours of an emergency call, the second best in England.

And the report also placed the authority as third best for non cancellations of operations, with a figure of just 0.08 per cent.

Commenting on the survey, Bury and Rochdale's Director of Public Health, Dr Kevin Snee, said the figures should not be seen as a reflection of the local health services in the area.

He said: "The indicators tell us that we need to make real progress in improving the health of the local population and I feel we are making strides in this area.

"Different areas face different challenges in terms of health needs of the population. In this area we have elements such as poverty and deprivation, as well as higher levels of people of Asian heritage and the associated health problems."

Dr Snee pointed to the authority's new initiatives, such as partnerships with other agencies, as proof that progress is being made.