The chance of dying within a month of presenting to emergency with a stroke, heart attack or pneumonia is shrinking, but that risk can vary widely between Sydney hospitals.

A report published on Wednesday by the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) looked at mortality rates 30 days after patients were admitted to a NSW public hospital for heart attack, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hip fracture surgery.

Deaths from the seven serious conditions have dropped. Credit:Louise Kennerley

These seven life-threatening conditions make up 11 per cent of acute emergency hospitalisations (about 180,000 patients), but account for 28 per cent (almost 18,000) of all hospital deaths.

Nine hospitals performed worse than expected for at least two conditions. Blue Mountains Hospital had a higher than expected mortality rate for three - heart attack, congestive heart failure and COPD.