Express & Star comment: Answers on death rates are needed
At the end of every mistake, scandal, and shocking episode in the public sector, a familiar mantra is rolled out: Lessons will be learned.
Today’s highly concerning figures about the number of unexpected deaths at hospitals in the West Midlands show that this is clearly not the case.
One trust in the region saw a death rate more than one fifth higher than had been estimated, while others posted figures that exceeded the expected number of deaths.
Serious questions must be asked of those in charge of our hospitals over the high death rates experienced over the last year.
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At The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, the additional deaths amounted to more than one a day, with 475 more deaths occurring than had been expected.
This is approaching the level of concern that prompted the investigations that would eventually lead to the Mid Staffordshire scandal, which shook the NHS to its core.
In the subsequent public inquiry, Robert Francis QC made his findings absolutely clear and set out a list of measures designed to ensure that such tragedies could never again strike in our NHS.
It could well be that the unexpected deaths recorded across the West Midlands have nothing to do with such circumstances.
It is certainly reassuring to hear that trusts are taking steps to look at the reasons behind the figures, and at New Cross Hospital, the medical director has announced that every death is being probed.
However, patients and the wider public will be rightly concerned to see such tragic outcomes occurring on a regular basis.
At this stage, it is impossible to know why there is such a difference between estimated mortality levels and actual deaths.
It may be down to funding issues, poor management, clinical errors, unavoidable medical circumstances or a combination of all of them.
With so many public bodies involved in overseeing and scrutinising the provision of services in the NHS, getting to the bottom of the issue should not be too difficult.
What is certain, is that this is an issue that needs to be urgently addressed in all of our hospitals. If only so lessons can now be learned properly.
