Hospital trust covering part of East Yorkshire is among worst in UK for mortality rates

A HOSPITAL trust covering parts of East Yorkshire has been named as one of those being investigated over high death rates.

In light of the Stafford Hospital scandal, where it is thought up to 1,200 people died after poor care, it was announced other trusts with high death rates would be investigated.

Five were announced last week and a further nine were named yesterday afternoon.

As first reported on the Mail's website, they include Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

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It is in charge of running Goole and District Hospital as well as Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and Scunthorpe General Hospital.

In November, it was revealed 332 people more than expected died during, or shortly after, being treated in one of the three hospitals between April 2011 and March last year.

The figures put the trust among the worst in the country for mortality rates.

NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh will lead the investigation at the nine trusts.

But the Goole trust said it would be an improvement exercise, rather than an investigation.

The trust's chief executive Karen Jackson said: "We very much welcome the chance to be part of Sir Bruce Keogh's review as it will assist us with all the work we have already done to improve our mortality position.

"Sir Bruce has stressed this is not an inspection but an improvement exercise.

"He aims to ensure hospitals have the support they need to improve so this review gives us an additional learning opportunity.

"Positive patient experience is at the heart of everything we do and we aim to continue with our focus on delivering high-quality care for all our patients.

"This priority is reflected within our organisational structure, culture and our day- to-day work on the frontline – how doctors and nurses treat the people in their care.

"What the mortality statistics do not demonstrate is the dedication from staff at all levels to the provision of safe, high-quality care to patients in all of our hospitals."

Last week, the Francis report was released, highlighting a number of errors at Stafford Hospital.

It is thought between 400 and 1,200 patients died there because of poor care between January 2005 and March 2009.

Inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC made 290 recommendations as part of his Stafford report, saying "fundamental change" is needed to prevent the public losing confidence in healthcare.

Mr Francis said the recommendations were designed to ensure patients' interests became the top priority for the NHS and that in future any lapses in care standards are detected and stopped straight away.

Among the list of points was advice that causing death or harm to a patient should be an offence and that a "duty of candour" should be imposed on NHS staff.

The report also said senior staff who breach codes of conduct should be disqualified and there should be no sacking of "scapegoats" or reorganising in the NHS.

Medical director Liz Scott said: "The trust's intensive mortality rate improvement programme is now having a positive impact, as evidence by our Risk Adjusted Mortality Index figures.

"This measure is more up-to- date and shows the trust has made a gradual but significant improvement over the past year.

"We are pleased to have this chance to learn from others through the Keogh review and find out what more we can do to improve the quality of care we provide."