Death rates fall at hospitals placed in special measures

A report by the Dr Foster data analysis company says that hundreds of deaths may have occurred if urgent measures had not been put in place at 11 failing hospital trusts in England.

The report, which focused on under-performing hospitals identified following the Stafford Hospital scandal, showed that average death rates fell after emergency interventions were enforced.

In the years leading up to 2008, hundreds of people suffered terrible care at Stafford Hospital, with inquiries suggesting that some patients may have died needlessly as a result. This led to a review of hospital trusts in 2013, with 11 trusts being placed in special measures.

Auditors from Dr Foster looked into death rates at the trusts both before and after they were placed in special measures, and in comparing recorded death rates to anticipated ones, the analysts have said that it would be reasonable to conclude that “hundreds of deaths that might otherwise have occurred without the intervention did not happen”.

Although, since July 2013, death rates had fallen across all hospitals in England, the falling trend was more significant at the 11 trusts with special measures, when taken as a group.

Roger Taylor of Dr Foster said “It is now up to the NHS to learn lessons of what worked in each of the 11 trusts, so that a best practice approach for special measures can be adopted.

“Hospitals need to pay urgent attention to any warning signs coming from their data to ensure patient safety isn’t compromised.”

However, national medical director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, said “Mortality statistics require careful interpretation, but they do provide an important smoke signal.

“What this report shows is that by following the smoke and carrying out proper, transparent analysis and supporting as necessary, you can help hospitals make significant improvements.”

Health Minister Lord Howe, said “Since the scandal at Mid Staffordshire we have taken tough decisions to improve patient safety.

“A total of 19 trusts have now been placed in special measures and today’s report is further evidence that our special measures programme is working.”

Dr Katherine Rake, chief executive of the watchdog Healthwatch England, said “The NHS is simply not good enough yet in terms of responding to people’s concerns and complaints but I think what today’s report shows is that when you turn that around you can deliver significant improvements.”

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said “It was because of this government’s decision to axe thousands of nursing jobs that these hospitals were placed in special measures in the first place.

“The hospitals are still getting worse on key measures now, particularly A&E performance, like the rest of the NHS.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in Medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/Medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our Medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 028 2969