A GRANDMOTHER suffered an angina attack after watching a video of open heart surgery sent by a North-East hospital to reassure her about a forthcoming operation.

Elizabeth Johnston, 63, of Workington, Cumbria, was taken to hospital in severe pain after viewing the graphic documentary showing her what to expect during heart bypass surgery.

The pensioner was diagnosed as having suffered an angina attack.

The bypass operation went ahead as scheduled in Cleveland, on Wednesday, where her condition was yesterday described as stable.

Family members have condemned the James Cook University Hospital (formerly South Cleveland), in Middlesbrough, for sending out the video.

"It is a video showing what will happen in the operation," said Mrs Johnston's son, Bryan Brown.

"It definitely brought the attack on. She wasn't right afterwards - she was lily-white and kept being sick.

"The video shows a doctor holding a model heart and explaining what will happen. It would have scared the hell out of me."

Mr Brown said his mother had been on the waiting list for 18 months.

"She was scared stiff she wouldn't make it because of the weather and she would miss her chance.

"She had to stop taking her angina pills in preparation for the operation. We know she needed to do that but it's no good if you're stressed out about the fact you might not get there.

"Then she was sent this video, to top it all. It's not nice, I've watched it myself and it's not for those with weak hearts."

Managers at the specialist heart unit denied they had been irresponsible, and said the educational video usually helped patients come to terms with what they would go through.

Dr Jim Hall, chief of service at the cardiac unit, said: "This is something we send out to the majority of patients so that they know what is going to happen.

"We have used it thousands of times and most people find it helpful. I'm very surprised the family members have taken such a dislike to it."

Mrs Johnston's husband David, 65, was yesterday at his wife's hospital bedside