Report warns of problems in quality of care

The authors of a new report have said that the higher than average mortality rates in some NHS trusts should act as a warning of potential problems in the quality of care they provide.

Roger Taylor, director of research at Dr Foster, which published the findings, said that while standards generally were improving, there were still some trusts which were lagging behind in terms of patient care.

He said: “Safety standards are improving, mortality rates are falling, the variation between the best and the worst is getting less. However, we do still have a long way to go in terms of involving patients in decisions about their care, enabling them to understand what their options are and ensuring they can always reliably and safely get the best quality care.”

He was speaking after Dr Foster published its 2010 Hospital Guide which showed that there were 19 NHS trusts which had death rates higher than would normally have been expected as well as two, in Hull and Birmingham, which had high rates of both hospital standardised mortality rates and deaths after surgery. Dr Foster says that the mortality rate is too high to occur by chance and it can be used as a warning sign. It adds that the figures published should not be used in isolation, but should act as an alarm to signal areas of concern.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said that patients had the right to expect the best from the NHS and when standards fell below expectation, there was a duty to report it. He added: “We have already taken action to improve safety and openness in the NHS - publishing more information and statistics for all to see, extending the list of mistakes the NHS will not be paid for and strengthening rights for whistleblowers.”

Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11839680