Concerns were today raised over emergency patient care in the Midlands after hospitals in the region were exposed for having higher than average death rates.

Hundreds more people are expected at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital and the University Hospital of North Staffordshire at Stoke-on-Trent when Stafford Hospital closes its A&E department from Thursday night.

Both the Wolverhampton and North Staffs hospitals were criticised in a report yesterday for having a higher number of patient deaths than expected.

New Cross reported 12 per cent more patients dying than predicted, and the University Hospital had 16 per cent more deaths during 2010/11. The North Staffordshire trust also had higher numbers of deaths after surgery.

A new ward will be opened at Wolverhampton to cope with an extra influx of around 460 patients a month from Stafford, while the University Hospital of North Stafford has said it will be bringing in extra staff to help treat 240 extra patients a month.

David Loughton, chief executive of New Cross Hospital, said: “The A&E department [at New Cross Hospital] is not fit for purpose as it currently is. We are looking at a new emergency portal but we are 18 months to two years away from having that.”

George Adamson, leader of Cannock Chase Council  said he was “really concerned” about the findings of the Dr Foster report.

Bosses at Stafford Hospital have admitted they cannot guarantee the safety of patients due to staff shortages, and will close the A&E department for three months between 10pm and 8am seven days a week.

New Cross has said it has carried out a detailed review of all deaths contained in the Dr Foster report and found all of them were unavoidable.