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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Report focuses on high death rates at NHS hospital trusts | Report focuses on high death rates at NHS hospital trusts |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Standards of care at 14 hospital trusts with the worst death rates in England are to be laid bare in a report later. | Standards of care at 14 hospital trusts with the worst death rates in England are to be laid bare in a report later. |
| An investigation was launched earlier this year after the public inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal. | An investigation was launched earlier this year after the public inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal. |
| The trusts all had higher-than-expected death rates from 2010-11 to 2011-12. | The trusts all had higher-than-expected death rates from 2010-11 to 2011-12. |
| The probe, led by medical director of NHS England Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, has focused on whether the figures indicate sustained failings in the quality of care and treatment at the trusts. | |
| It has been looking at whether existing action by the trusts to improve quality is adequate or whether they are in need of any "additional external support". | It has been looking at whether existing action by the trusts to improve quality is adequate or whether they are in need of any "additional external support". |
| The report was ordered by the government after the publication of the Francis Inquiry into Stafford Hospital, amid concern that failing hospitals were not being held to account. | The report was ordered by the government after the publication of the Francis Inquiry into Stafford Hospital, amid concern that failing hospitals were not being held to account. |
| That inquiry accused the NHS of betraying the public by putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients. | That inquiry accused the NHS of betraying the public by putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients. |
| The 14 trusts investigated by Sir Bruce have the worst records in terms of mortality rates, which look at the number of deaths beyond what would be expected. Many of the trusts cover more than one hospital. | The 14 trusts investigated by Sir Bruce have the worst records in terms of mortality rates, which look at the number of deaths beyond what would be expected. Many of the trusts cover more than one hospital. |
| Prof Sir Brian Jarman, an expert on mortality rates who contributed to the report, told the BBC that seven years of data, from 2005 to 2012, had been examined. | |
| "We found there were about 13,300 more deaths than you would have expected if those hospitals had the national death rates," he said. | |
| He said a lot of it had to do with staffing levels. | |
| "Doctors make mistakes if they are overworked," he said. "If you don't have enough trained nurses, as with doctors, you get higher death rates." | |
| 'Smoke alarm' | 'Smoke alarm' |
| High death rates are in effect a "smoke alarm" - a sign that something may be wrong. | High death rates are in effect a "smoke alarm" - a sign that something may be wrong. |
| So Sir Bruce's team has carried out inspections and spoken to patients and staff to see if there were signs of serious failures that were not detected by regulators. | So Sir Bruce's team has carried out inspections and spoken to patients and staff to see if there were signs of serious failures that were not detected by regulators. |
| The trusts which have been investigated are: | The trusts which have been investigated are: |
| • Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | • Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| • Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | • Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| • Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust | • Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust |
| • Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | • Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| • Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust | • Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust |
| • The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust | • The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust |
| • East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust | • East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust |
| • George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | • George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust |
| • Medway NHS Foundation Trust | • Medway NHS Foundation Trust |
| • North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust | • North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust |
| • Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | • Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| • Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | • Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| • Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | • Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
| • United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust | • United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust |
| At the moment, regulatory action is being taken against seven of the trusts, but none is facing the ultimate sanctions of fines, closure of individual units or administration of the entire organisation. | At the moment, regulatory action is being taken against seven of the trusts, but none is facing the ultimate sanctions of fines, closure of individual units or administration of the entire organisation. |
| Key questions | Key questions |
| Action Against Medical Accidents chief executive Peter Walsh said: "These investigations are welcome but well overdue. The problems at these trusts were known to the authorities well before any decision to look into them. | Action Against Medical Accidents chief executive Peter Walsh said: "These investigations are welcome but well overdue. The problems at these trusts were known to the authorities well before any decision to look into them. |
| "What patients most want to know are answers to some key questions. Are these hospitals safe now? Is the regulatory system now robust enough to detect problems when they arise and intervene quickly to protect patients? Will those responsible for allowing these avoidable deaths to go on be held to account?" | "What patients most want to know are answers to some key questions. Are these hospitals safe now? Is the regulatory system now robust enough to detect problems when they arise and intervene quickly to protect patients? Will those responsible for allowing these avoidable deaths to go on be held to account?" |
| Roger Taylor, of Dr Foster, a research company that has pioneered the use of mortality data, said: "In the past, there has been a culture in the NHS, which at best aims to reassure the public and at worst seeks to conceal failings. | Roger Taylor, of Dr Foster, a research company that has pioneered the use of mortality data, said: "In the past, there has been a culture in the NHS, which at best aims to reassure the public and at worst seeks to conceal failings. |
| "That culture has had its day. The reluctance to speak plainly about the risks to patients has meant that, too often, poor care has been allowed to continue. The desire to support organisations struggling to provide a high standard of care in difficult circumstances has cost patients their lives." | "That culture has had its day. The reluctance to speak plainly about the risks to patients has meant that, too often, poor care has been allowed to continue. The desire to support organisations struggling to provide a high standard of care in difficult circumstances has cost patients their lives." |
| The Stafford Hospital inquiry was launched after data showed there had been between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than would have been expected. | The Stafford Hospital inquiry was launched after data showed there had been between 400 and 1,200 more deaths than would have been expected. |
| It is impossible to say all of these patients would have survived if they had received better treatment, but evidence made it clear many were let down by a culture that put cost-cutting and target-chasing ahead of the quality of care. | It is impossible to say all of these patients would have survived if they had received better treatment, but evidence made it clear many were let down by a culture that put cost-cutting and target-chasing ahead of the quality of care. |
| Examples included patients being so thirsty that they had to drink water from vases and receptionists left to decide which patients to treat in A&E. | Examples included patients being so thirsty that they had to drink water from vases and receptionists left to decide which patients to treat in A&E. |