Probe into 'high death rate' hospitals extended

[Northerner]

Another nine hospital trusts are to be investigated for high death rates in the wake of the damning report on the NHS over its handling of the Stafford Hospital scandal.

The NHS's system of regulation and monitoring was heavily criticised by the Francis inquiry last week.

It prompted ministers to launch an immediate inquiry into five trusts with high death rates.

Another nine have now been added to that list, bringing the total to 14.

NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh will lead the investigation after the analysis of data through up the new group.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21411153

 

[trophywench]

This is interesting esp since the Geo Eliot is my nearest hospital. (although neither of us would be cared for there)

I question if it is because they are killing people like Stafford did. Which is kinda what you might assume at first.

Might it not be because they have eg a very high rate of admissions of really elderly sick people?

Russell's Hall at Dudley has a high number of cancer patients and a large neo-natal unit, SCBU and suchlike for instance.

 

[LeeLee]

One would hope they would factor in the patient profile before calculating whether a Trust is doing better/worse than the average. However, such factors do sometimes get missed. Last year the Trust that runs the Lister in Stevenage experienced the rough end of that - it also covers a large cancer centre that treats many very complex cases, and of course not every patient survives.