29.01.14
HSCIC names trusts with ‘persistently high’ mortality ratios
The number of deaths over the last two years was higher than expected at six hospital trusts, a new report from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) shows.
Between 2011 and 2013, 18 trusts had persistently low or high mortality ratios. Based on Summary Hospital Level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), 12 had lower ratios than expected and six had higher.
The trusts found to have higher than expected mortality rates were: Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust; Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Wye Valley NHS Trust; Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Three of those six were also among the 14 trusts investigated by Sir Bruce Keogh last year for their high death rates, 11 of which were then put into special measures.
HSCIC chair Kingsley Manning said: “The SHMI, combined with other indicators provides a very useful insight, which should prompt trusts to undertake a further, more detailed examination of their services, but should not be seen as a definitive judgement.”
In December, healthcare analysis firm Dr Foster released data suggesting death rates were too high at 16 trusts, 13 of which had higher-than-usual mortality according to two or more of its seven different methods of monitoring the data.
Overall, 237,100 patients died in hospital in 2012/13 – which was more than in 2011/12, but lower than the 2010/11 figure.
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