The assembly backed a unit 30 miles from Ysbyty Gwynedd

A £1m cardiac catherisation laboratory was built in Ysbyty Gwynedd in 2002.

The hospital said assembly agency Health Commission Wales refused funds for angiograms to be conducted there.

Instead, the assembly government backed a specialist cardiac unit 30 miles away to serve all of north Wales. But that is not due to open until 2006.

Angiograms are often necessary before deciding whether coronary disease patients need more treatment.

Our specialists are on the road for four to five hours a week Dr Glyn Roberts, North West Wales NHS Trust

The North West Wales NHS Trust said it had hoped it could carry out more than 800 angiograms on patients each year, at a cost of about £400,000. Most of that would pay for staff.

Instead of conducting angiograms - or X-rays of the heart's blood vessels or chambers - the trust said its laboratory was being used for other work, including fitting pacemakers.

Dr Glyn Roberts, from the trust, said: "What we have is that patients have to travel 100 miles to Manchester."

Speaking on Friday, Gwynedd Council Leader Richard Parry Hughes said he felt "disappointed" and "angry".

"We see a mess after mess within health in Wales...and I think we are in trouble again.

Three week wait

"This shows failure to communicate between the assembly government and Ysbyty Gwynedd to start, and with the NHS Trust for North West Wales. It is very disappointing."

On occasion, the trust has had to pay private hospitals around Manchester to carry out the treatment because NHS hospitals there were too busy.

Martin Williams, who had a heart attack in July, said he had to wait three weeks for an angiogram in Manchester.

In a statement, the Welsh Assembly Government said it was investing £2m in building the unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan to serve the entire region.

The assembly government said the commission had an agreed strategic plan for tertiary - or specialist - cardiac services.