Claims that Scotland is leading the world in cutting hospital death rates have been disputed by research revealing that the number of people dying on wards has fallen faster in England.

The chance of dying after a planned procedure is three times higher north of the border, a study indicated. The authors also said that more patients who need emergency treatment survive in England, even though Scotland’s death rates looked better 20 years ago.

The findings were released the day after Shona Robison, the health secretary, issued a statement lauding figures that she said showed Scotland’s “world-leading patient safety programme has cut hospital mortality by over 10 per cent”.

Martin Chalkley, an expert in health economics at York University and co-author of the study, said: