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Dispute over NHS hospital ratings Dispute over NHS hospital ratings
(about 2 hours later)
Twelve NHS hospital trusts in England are "significantly underperforming", a report has said, despite eight recently having been rated as good or excellent.Twelve NHS hospital trusts in England are "significantly underperforming", a report has said, despite eight recently having been rated as good or excellent.
The report by monitoring body Dr Foster also said 27 trusts had unusually high death rates.The report by monitoring body Dr Foster also said 27 trusts had unusually high death rates.
But the Care Quality Commission, which has issued its official ratings within the past month, said it saw no need to step in at the moment.But the Care Quality Commission, which has issued its official ratings within the past month, said it saw no need to step in at the moment.
One trust criticised by Dr Foster said it was "surprised and disappointed". Some trusts have hit back at Dr Foster, describing its data as misleading.
Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust said it "prided itself" on patient safety, and consistently had one of the lowest hospital-acquired infection rates in the country. University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust described the findings as a "grossly misleading assessment". It said the report had been met with "shock and disbelief".
"We fully support the open sharing of information and all patient safety initiatives; however, we feel that the methodology used to calculate this patient safety score is unclear and very difficult for the public to understand. In a statement, the trust said: "In their last report, Dr. Foster rated UHSM in the top ten safest hospitals in the country, based on low mortality rates.
"We have raised these concerns with the Dr Foster Guide," a statement said. "Mortality rates at UHSM are even lower this year, yet the same hospital is now being catapulted to the bottom of the National league table."
A statement by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust described the Dr Foster report as "extremely confusing".
Its chief executive Julia Squire said: "People can be confident about the care we offer and our focus on patient safety."
Variations in careVariations in care
The part-private, part-NHS Dr Foster Hospital Guide rates hospital trusts from one to five based on analysis of a range of "safety indicators", including errors in surgery, deaths, infection rates and staffing levels.The part-private, part-NHS Dr Foster Hospital Guide rates hospital trusts from one to five based on analysis of a range of "safety indicators", including errors in surgery, deaths, infection rates and staffing levels.
In this year's report 12 received the lowest score.In this year's report 12 received the lowest score.
They include University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire; Weston Area Health Trust; South London Healthcare Trust; Tameside Hospital Foundation Trust; University Hospital of South Manchester and St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust.They include University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire; Weston Area Health Trust; South London Healthcare Trust; Tameside Hospital Foundation Trust; University Hospital of South Manchester and St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust.
Roger Taylor: "There is no right way to measure a hospital"Roger Taylor: "There is no right way to measure a hospital"
Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust; Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals Foundation Trust; and Hereford Hospitals Trust are also among the 12, which are completed by Basildon and Thurrock; Lewisham; and Scarborough and North East Yorkshire.Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust; Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals Foundation Trust; and Hereford Hospitals Trust are also among the 12, which are completed by Basildon and Thurrock; Lewisham; and Scarborough and North East Yorkshire.
Of these St Helens and Knowsley was rated excellent by the CQC and three others - Mid Yorkshire, Weston Area and Scarborough and North East Yorkshire - were rated fair, with seven of the remainder achieving good ratings.Of these St Helens and Knowsley was rated excellent by the CQC and three others - Mid Yorkshire, Weston Area and Scarborough and North East Yorkshire - were rated fair, with seven of the remainder achieving good ratings.
South London Healthcare was formed by a merger of three trusts, one of which was rated good in the latest Care Quality Commission findings.South London Healthcare was formed by a merger of three trusts, one of which was rated good in the latest Care Quality Commission findings.
Overall, the Dr Foster report said hospital death rates in England had fallen by 7%, but quality of care continued to vary greatly across the country.Overall, the Dr Foster report said hospital death rates in England had fallen by 7%, but quality of care continued to vary greatly across the country.
It cited more than 200 cases where items such as swabs had been left inside patients' bodies after surgery and more than 5,000 instances where people who were admitted with low-risk conditions died in hospital.It cited more than 200 cases where items such as swabs had been left inside patients' bodies after surgery and more than 5,000 instances where people who were admitted with low-risk conditions died in hospital.
'Quite alarmist''Quite alarmist'
Roger Taylor, director of Dr Foster, said: "No hospital in the world would claim to be free of these kinds of errors, but what has been learned over the years is that recording what is happening, and making that information generally public, is the best way to start tackling the issues."Roger Taylor, director of Dr Foster, said: "No hospital in the world would claim to be free of these kinds of errors, but what has been learned over the years is that recording what is happening, and making that information generally public, is the best way to start tackling the issues."
LOWEST RATED TRUSTS Coventry and WarwickshireWeston AreaSouth LondonTamesideSouth ManchesterSt Helens and Knowsley Mid YorkshireBlackpool, Fylde and WyreHerefordBasildon and ThurrockLewishamScarborough and North East Yorkshire Source: Dr Foster Hospital Guide Analysis: measuring the monolith Trusts respond to ratingsLOWEST RATED TRUSTS Coventry and WarwickshireWeston AreaSouth LondonTamesideSouth ManchesterSt Helens and Knowsley Mid YorkshireBlackpool, Fylde and WyreHerefordBasildon and ThurrockLewishamScarborough and North East Yorkshire Source: Dr Foster Hospital Guide Analysis: measuring the monolith Trusts respond to ratings
In response, the CQC said it was monitoring a small number of hospitals, but had "no evidence that there is another trust in England where we would take action of the kind we have taken at Basildon".In response, the CQC said it was monitoring a small number of hospitals, but had "no evidence that there is another trust in England where we would take action of the kind we have taken at Basildon".
Baroness Young, head of the CQC, told the BBC that some of Dr Foster's data was "very legitimate", but some was "quite alarmist".Baroness Young, head of the CQC, told the BBC that some of Dr Foster's data was "very legitimate", but some was "quite alarmist".
"But where they are good we will take them to account in our regulatory work and where they are flaky, we won't," she added."But where they are good we will take them to account in our regulatory work and where they are flaky, we won't," she added.
She said Dr Foster's report was a useful contribution to the study of the quality of care, but added: "We do a comprehensive programme of monitoring, on a much more detailed level."She said Dr Foster's report was a useful contribution to the study of the quality of care, but added: "We do a comprehensive programme of monitoring, on a much more detailed level."
A Department of Health spokesman said the CQC would "keep the situation under close review and report back to the health secretary with any further concerns".A Department of Health spokesman said the CQC would "keep the situation under close review and report back to the health secretary with any further concerns".
He said: "We have made real improvements in recent years and England is recognised as one of the world leaders in the international drive to improve the safety of healthcare.He said: "We have made real improvements in recent years and England is recognised as one of the world leaders in the international drive to improve the safety of healthcare.
HAVE YOUR SAY Regulation should be based partly on recorded comments of those treated in hospitals and their relatives Jan Thomas, Nottinghamshire Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Regulation should be based partly on recorded comments of those treated in hospitals and their relatives Jan Thomas, Nottinghamshire Send us your comments
"The vast majority of patients experience high-quality, safe and effective care and the CQC's recent survey showed that 93% of patients rate their overall care as good or excellent.""The vast majority of patients experience high-quality, safe and effective care and the CQC's recent survey showed that 93% of patients rate their overall care as good or excellent."
The Conservatives highlighted what they said was the "extraordinary" contrast between Dr Foster's findings and the CQC's own assessments.The Conservatives highlighted what they said was the "extraordinary" contrast between Dr Foster's findings and the CQC's own assessments.
Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien told the BBC: "Clearly there needs to be a massive overhaul in the way that the inspection regime is working, because... the failed system of self assessment can't carry on and we need to rip up the performance indicators - above all stop the tick-box targets."Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien told the BBC: "Clearly there needs to be a massive overhaul in the way that the inspection regime is working, because... the failed system of self assessment can't carry on and we need to rip up the performance indicators - above all stop the tick-box targets."
Liberal Democrats shadow health secretary Norman Lamb said: "We were told that the mid-Staffordshire case was a one-off scandal.Liberal Democrats shadow health secretary Norman Lamb said: "We were told that the mid-Staffordshire case was a one-off scandal.
"At the time I called for a public inquiry and it was rejected then.""At the time I called for a public inquiry and it was rejected then."
He added: "Now the case is overwhelming and we appear to have a system which seems to be able to deliver 'paper-safety' but not real 'patient safety'."He added: "Now the case is overwhelming and we appear to have a system which seems to be able to deliver 'paper-safety' but not real 'patient safety'."
On Thursday, the Care Quality Commission sent a task force into Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust in Essex after it uncovered major lapses in hygiene and unusually high death rates.On Thursday, the Care Quality Commission sent a task force into Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust in Essex after it uncovered major lapses in hygiene and unusually high death rates.
Just 24 hours later, the chairman of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust was sacked after inspectors found it had consistently failed to improve waiting times and had death rates 12% higher than expected.Just 24 hours later, the chairman of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust was sacked after inspectors found it had consistently failed to improve waiting times and had death rates 12% higher than expected.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham reacted by ordering an urgent review by regulators to find out whether any other trusts required "immediate investigation".Health Secretary Andy Burnham reacted by ordering an urgent review by regulators to find out whether any other trusts required "immediate investigation".