Hospital deaths: Four per cent more than expected die at Russells Hall
More Russells Hall Hospital patients died than were expected to last year, according to shock new figures revealed by the Express & Star today.
And Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital posted the worst unexpected death rate in the country – a staggering 475 more deaths than had been estimated.
Officials estimated there should have been 2,331 deaths at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (DGNFT) or within 30 days of discharge in 2017.
However, 2,433 people died – four per cent more than had been estimated.
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The figure falls within the official ‘expected’ rating for NHS trusts, which allows for leeway over estimates.
Dudley Group bosses said it had a nationally recognised mortality tracking system which helps staff to ensure they learn as much as possible from all deaths and make any necessary improvements.
The statistics were compiled in the latest NHS Digital report on hospital mortality rates, and show that 13 trusts were categorised as having higher death rates than expected.
Elsewhere
They include the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which was the worst in the country with 475 more deaths than were predicted. The trust recorded 2,654 deaths in 2017, 22 per cent higher than the estimate of 2,179.
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital in Birmingham, was also named as having a higher than expected death rate.
It was expected to record 1,898 deaths in 2017, but instead had 2,137 – 239 more deaths (13 per cent).
NHS Digital has warned that the figures, which were brought in as a result of the Mid-Staffordshire hospital crisis, only act as a ‘smoke alarm’ for further investigation.
Two other trusts in the region were classed as having a mortality rate ‘as expected’, despite recording more deaths than had been estimated.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Manor Hospital, had 147 more deaths than expected (10 per cent) and University Hospitals of North Midlands, which runs County Hospital, had 190 more deaths than expected (five per cent).
The figures come from the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator and factors taken into consideration include the characteristics of patients treated at the hospitals.
A similar form of data analysis helped to uncover the Mid Staffs hospital scandal in 2010, which saw between 400 and 1,200 patients die as a result of poor care between January 2005 and March 2009 at Stafford Hospital
Sir Robert Francis QC, published his final report into the scandal in 2013, finding that bosses became obsessed with cost-cutting and government targets at the expense of care.
His report in the wake of the 2010 public inquiry found hundreds of patients experienced ‘appalling and unnecessary’ suffering.
Health chief: We learn from every patient lost
A ‘robust policy’ is in place at Dudley’s hospitals to review all deaths that occur so any lessons can be learned and the quality of patient care can be improved, a health chief said.
Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said the number of deaths last year was within the official ‘expected’ range and had been for four years.
She added that learning as much as possible from the deaths of people in its care was important so that improvements could be made when required.
A total of 2,433 people died at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (DGNFT) or within 30 days of discharge in 2017. This was four per cent more than had been estimated, according to the latest NHS Digital report on hospital mortality rates.
Mrs Wake said: “The Summary Hospital-Level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) is a national statistical model used to show the ratio between the actual number of patients who die following hospitalisation at the trust and the number that would be expected to die on the basis of average England figures.
“The Dudley Group’s SHMI is 1.04 and is well within the expected range and has been within the expected range since 2014.
“Reviewing and learning from deaths of people in our care can help us to learn lessons and improve the quality of care we provide.
“We have had a robust policy for reviewing all deaths that occur in hospital for a number of years and we also have a nationally recognised mortality tracking system which helps us ensure we learn as much as possible from all deaths.”
Figures for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust were also within the official ‘expected’ rating for NHS Trusts.
During the 12 months, 1,668 people died – the number was 10 per cent higher than the estimated figure of 1,521.
Medical director Amir Khan said: “While we were in the ‘as expected’ range for the number of deaths that occurred both within and outside of the hospital environment we analyse all cases in accordance with national policy and to embed changes from any lessons learned.
“There are a wide range of factors that contribute to mortality rates which is why we work with partners across Walsall’s health economy to prioritise preventative work among people of all ages who use our services.”
