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Warning on hospital death rates Warning on hospital death rates
(about 12 hours later)
Twenty-five NHS trusts in England should be investigated over higher than normal death rates, a leading health expert has warned the government.Twenty-five NHS trusts in England should be investigated over higher than normal death rates, a leading health expert has warned the government.
Prof Brian Jarman said a total of 4,600 more patients had died at those trusts in 2007-08 than would be expected.Prof Brian Jarman said a total of 4,600 more patients had died at those trusts in 2007-08 than would be expected.
He told the BBC a higher than expected death rate did not necessarily prove hospitals were doing anything wrong, but could help identify wider problems.He told the BBC a higher than expected death rate did not necessarily prove hospitals were doing anything wrong, but could help identify wider problems.
The government said trusts with high death rates had already been checked.The government said trusts with high death rates had already been checked.
Mortality alertsMortality alerts
Prof Jarman, who is an emeritus professor at London's Imperial College School of Medicine, told the BBC he had identified a number of NHS trusts in England with a higher than expected Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR).Prof Jarman, who is an emeritus professor at London's Imperial College School of Medicine, told the BBC he had identified a number of NHS trusts in England with a higher than expected Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR).
He argues that, when combined with other factors, a high HSMR can indicate broader problems with patient care.He argues that, when combined with other factors, a high HSMR can indicate broader problems with patient care.
THE 25 TRUSTS Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustBasildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustBlackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustCentral Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustColchester Hospital University NHS Foundation TrustGeorge Eliot Hospital NHS TrustGreat Western Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustHeart Of England NHS Foundation TrustHull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS TrustJames Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustMayday Healthcare NHS TrustMid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustMid Staffordshire NHS Foundation TrustMid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS TrustNorth Middlesex University Hospital NHS TrustPennine Acute Hospitals NHS TrustRoyal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation TrustSherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSouthampton University Hospitals NHS TrustStockport NHS Foundation TrustTameside Hospital NHS Foundation TrustUnited Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS TrustUniversity Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustUniversity Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustWrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust Source: Prof Brian JarmanTHE 25 TRUSTS Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustBasildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustBlackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustCentral Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustColchester Hospital University NHS Foundation TrustGeorge Eliot Hospital NHS TrustGreat Western Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustHeart Of England NHS Foundation TrustHull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS TrustJames Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustMayday Healthcare NHS TrustMid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustMid Staffordshire NHS Foundation TrustMid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS TrustNorth Middlesex University Hospital NHS TrustPennine Acute Hospitals NHS TrustRoyal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation TrustSherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustSouthampton University Hospitals NHS TrustStockport NHS Foundation TrustTameside Hospital NHS Foundation TrustUnited Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS TrustUniversity Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustUniversity Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustWrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust Source: Prof Brian Jarman
"There are 25 hospitals which have an HSMR which is extremely high, and [where] we have found four or more mortality alerts," he said."There are 25 hospitals which have an HSMR which is extremely high, and [where] we have found four or more mortality alerts," he said.
A mortality alert is triggered by higher than expected deaths for a particular procedure.A mortality alert is triggered by higher than expected deaths for a particular procedure.
Prof Jarman said each of the trusts in question had at least 150 more deaths than expected in the year 2007-08.Prof Jarman said each of the trusts in question had at least 150 more deaths than expected in the year 2007-08.
Across the 25 trusts, there were 4,600 unexpected deaths in total.Across the 25 trusts, there were 4,600 unexpected deaths in total.
He acknowledged there may have been some problems with the way the deaths were recorded, but called on the government to ask the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to investigate each of the trusts rather than relying on their own self-assessments.He acknowledged there may have been some problems with the way the deaths were recorded, but called on the government to ask the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to investigate each of the trusts rather than relying on their own self-assessments.
"These are ones which I would think it would be worth investigating."These are ones which I would think it would be worth investigating.
"I have sent the data to the Secretary of State Andy Burnham. I haven't had a response.""I have sent the data to the Secretary of State Andy Burnham. I haven't had a response."
The self-assessment system has been widely discredited, and Prof Jarman, a former British Medical Association president, is a long-standing critic of it.The self-assessment system has been widely discredited, and Prof Jarman, a former British Medical Association president, is a long-standing critic of it.
Earlier this month, the BBC's Panorama programme highlighted the discrepancy between many hospitals' own assessments of their performances and the conclusions of inspectors who carried out investigations.Earlier this month, the BBC's Panorama programme highlighted the discrepancy between many hospitals' own assessments of their performances and the conclusions of inspectors who carried out investigations.
Prof Jarman said: "The regulator uses a method which I think is fundamentally flawed, which is that only 20% of hospitals are inspected every year.Prof Jarman said: "The regulator uses a method which I think is fundamentally flawed, which is that only 20% of hospitals are inspected every year.
"They are assessing 20% of the cases in the hospital. So that's 20% of 20% which is 4%."They are assessing 20% of the cases in the hospital. So that's 20% of 20% which is 4%.
"But when you look at that 4% and see whether the self-assessment agrees with the actual on-site inspection for the hospitals that are at risk, two-thirds of the self-reporting is in fact incorrect.""But when you look at that 4% and see whether the self-assessment agrees with the actual on-site inspection for the hospitals that are at risk, two-thirds of the self-reporting is in fact incorrect."
In response, health minister Mike O'Brien said: "We'll look at Professor Jarman's letter, but the CQC has conducted a regional review of all the trusts identified as having high mortality ratios.In response, health minister Mike O'Brien said: "We'll look at Professor Jarman's letter, but the CQC has conducted a regional review of all the trusts identified as having high mortality ratios.
"It confirmed in January that - at that time - they had no current concerns that they would be as bad as Mid Staffordshire clearly was.""It confirmed in January that - at that time - they had no current concerns that they would be as bad as Mid Staffordshire clearly was."
Last month an independent inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust detailed evidence of systematic failings which caused "unimaginable" patient distress and suffering, despite being rated as a "fair" hospital by the NHS for most of the period in question.Last month an independent inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust detailed evidence of systematic failings which caused "unimaginable" patient distress and suffering, despite being rated as a "fair" hospital by the NHS for most of the period in question.
Last year it had been reported there were at least 400 more deaths than expected at the trust from 2005 to 2008.Last year it had been reported there were at least 400 more deaths than expected at the trust from 2005 to 2008.
Unannounced visitsUnannounced visits
Mr O'Brien acknowledged that the self-assessment system does have limitations.Mr O'Brien acknowledged that the self-assessment system does have limitations.
"Self-assessment I think has in the past been over-relied upon and that's why we've changed the way in which regulation is carried out."Self-assessment I think has in the past been over-relied upon and that's why we've changed the way in which regulation is carried out.
"In the new system of registration, every hospital gets visited every two years, but if there's a higher risk then it'll be more often than that - and [the CQC] can make unannounced visits at any time," he said."In the new system of registration, every hospital gets visited every two years, but if there's a higher risk then it'll be more often than that - and [the CQC] can make unannounced visits at any time," he said.
"What they do not do is leave unchallenged the views of hospitals about the way in which they are behaving.""What they do not do is leave unchallenged the views of hospitals about the way in which they are behaving."
And the minister warned that, under the new rules, a hospital which failed to meet adequate standards could face having its registration made conditional or even removed altogether, meaning it would no longer be able to operate.And the minister warned that, under the new rules, a hospital which failed to meet adequate standards could face having its registration made conditional or even removed altogether, meaning it would no longer be able to operate.
Complex
Richard Hamblin, the CQC's Director of Intelligence, commented: "As Professor Jarman has said, a higher than expected mortality rate does not prove a hospital is doing anything wrong. These figures need to be considered as part of a wider picture.
"It is over-simplistic to say that a mortality rate across an entire trust is a direct indicator of quality of care. We have found reasons for concern at trusts with both high and low mortality rates.
"NHS trusts are complex organisations, seeing thousands of patients every day across a range of different sites and specialties. Variation exists not just between trusts, but within them.
"CQC looks closely at the mortality rates of every trust in England alongside a range of other data, such as readmission rates, infection rates and reported incidents, as well as information from our inspections, the public and other organisations. It is all of this together that gives a picture of performance. We do not rely on trusts' self-assessment.
"We follow up mortality concerns whenever they arise, whether through our own mortality rates analysis (which draws on our own data or data from Professor Jarman's unit at Imperial College) and from other sources. Where we discover that data indicates an actual problem we take action."


The Report is on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, 25 March at 2000 GMT. You can also listen via the BBC iPlayer or download the podcast.The Report is on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, 25 March at 2000 GMT. You can also listen via the BBC iPlayer or download the podcast.