5,000 NHS deaths could be avoided

Almost five thousand deaths could be prevented each year if the country's worst managed hospitals achieved a small improvement in performance, according to a study.

A wide variation in hospital death rates across the NHS is disclosed in The Hospital Guide, compiled by independent health information provider Dr Foster. Some 17 patients die in poor performing hospitals for every 10 in the best, the study shows.

The majority of hospitals with the lowest death rates - seven out of ten - are in London and the South East.

The highest death rates are evenly spread across the country except for the South West and Yorkshire which have average, or lower than average, death rates.

The research shows that, nationally, mortality rates have been improving by between 2% and 3% in recent years.

But if all hospitals with above-average death rates improved their performance to achieve the average, 5,000 lives would be saved every year in England.

Roger Taylor, research director at Dr Foster, said this information was vital to patients making choices about where they went for treatment.

"From January next year, patients will have the right to chose where they are treated," he said. "They need detailed information about the services available in their local hospitals as well as overall performance indicators.

"The Dr Foster hospital guide provides the most comprehensive information about standards and services, free to the public."

The lowest standardised mortality ratios are 30% better than average while the highest are 20% better than average.

(thisislondon)