A patient who helped to launch a national scheme to speed up hospital treatment for heart disease has undergone a double bypass operation.

Peter Szymik has become one of the first patients with South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust to opt for early treatment at another hospital.

The 51-year-old had a bypass at the Washington Hospital, Wearside, last month.

In July, he met Health Secretary Alan Milburn at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Mr Milburn was launching a scheme which gives patients who have waited six months for heart surgery the choice of faster treatment at another hospital.

Mr Szymik, who was forced to retire early from his job as a landscape gardener because of his heart condition and diabetes, had an operation on September 12.

He went home five days later, and is making a good recovery.

Mr Szymik had been waiting for his operation at the James Cook University Hospital for nearly 11 months. Since the initiative was introduced, 14 patients from the Middlesbrough hospital have been treated at Washington.

Patient suitability for the choice scheme is assessed by a clinician on an individual basis.

Not all patients will be eligible, and doctors may feel they would be better served by staying at their own hospital.