16.07.13
More trusts to face special measures after Keogh mortality review
The review into hospitals with high mortality rates is due to be published today, and is expected to indicate the failure at Mid Staffordshire was not an isolated incident – and suggest that other trusts need to be placed in special measures.
Sir Bruce Keogh was commissioned to investigate 14 trusts with higher than expected mortality rates as part of the Government’s response to the Francis Inquiry. Regulatory action is currently being taken against six of the trusts.
His findings are reported to include 13,000 unnecessary deaths at the trusts between 2010 and 2012.
The trusts under review are: Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), said: “It is clear that parts of the system must change to better meet patients’ needs.
“Patients deserve high quality care that meets all of their needs. To achieve this, both the system and patient care pathways must be designed around patients’ needs. Current services no longer meet the needs of patients; we are trying to fit around outdated systems. Patients’ demands have changed and so our hospital services must change.”
He called for a seven day health service, as well as clinical leadership, collaboration and greater transparency to achieve this.
“The RCP continues to push for a seven day health service. We encourage transparency across the NHS, as well as the use of audit data and accreditation to drive up quality.”
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