High death rates in two hospitals being probed
AN investigation is under way after two west of Scotland hospitals recorded significantly higher than average death rates.
Official statistics showed that mortality rates at the Vale of Leven hospital in Alexandria and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, combined, were higher than average from January to March this year.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said an intensive review of services was already under way at the two hospitals.
The board is examining the findings of the report in consultation with doctors and managers and a full report will be produced.
The figures also showed that death rates at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Western General, within 30 days of admission, were significantly lower than the national average.
Overall, mortality rate at Scotland’s hospitals has fallen by 4.5 per cent over the past two years.
Official statistics show the drop was achieved between January to March 2014 and the same period this year.
The Scottish Government said the decrease equated to 3000 fewer deaths than predicted during the period.
The Belford Hospital in Fort William also had significantly higher mortality rates than the national average – the highest in Scotland.
Patients from the least deprived areas of Scotland consistently had lower levels of mortality than patients from more deprived areas.
Seven hospitals recorded a 10 per cent reduction in mortality rates since 2014 including: Hairmyres Hospital, Monklands, Wishaw General and University Hospital in Ayr.
The Scottish Patient Safety Programme was set up with the aim of reducing hospital mortality rates by 20 per cent by the end of 2015, a target that was missed by 3.5 per cent.
A new target has now been set to cut mortality rates by a further 10 per cent by December 2018, when compared to the first quarter of 2014.
A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: “The local teams are focused on the report and have launched an intensive review of existing quality improvement programmes.
“Our clinicians and local managers, together with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, will work through these findings and a full report will be compiled for the board’s clinical governance committee in due course.”
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “It is encouraging to see that our commitment to patient safety across the health service is delivering such strong results, especially at a time when our NHS is treating more people, with more complex needs, than ever before.
“The 4.5 per cent drop in mortality rate since the start of 2014 shows we are making progress towards our new aim of a 10 per cent reduction by December 2018. This is on top of the improvements in mortality already achieved since the start of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme in 2007.”
Professor Jason Leitch, clinical director for NHS Scotland, said: “Our NHS is working to deliver the safest possible hospitals we can for Scotland, and today’s figures show we are continuing in the right direction towards our new demanding target.
“However, there is always more we can do.”