Deaths down at Stafford Hospital
Mortality rates at Stafford Hospital are dropping according to new figures.
A 13-month chart, with rolling updates each month, has been posted on the trust's website so that members of the public can see how Stafford Hospital is performing.
The figures are taken from April 2008 to April 2009 and show a downward trend in the Hospital Standardised Mortality Rate (HSMR) from 101.9 in April 2008 to 71.1 in April 2009.
A figure of below 100 means the hospital had fewer deaths than expected.
In April 2008 there were 103 deaths at the hospital. By April 2009, this has dropped to 57 deaths.
The trust's medical director, Manjit Obhrai said: "The decision to post the trust's mortality rates online was taken to try to build confidence among our patients and their families.
"Given our high standards and our drive to help maintain them we are undertaking a number of measures, to ensure that we continue to stay below the expected rate and do not become complacent."
A high HSMR of 127 in 2005/06 recorded at the hospital was the reason why the Healthcare Commission began investigating the Weston Road site in 2008.
