CAN TO IMPROVE SAY NHS TRUSTS

good. But SHMI data also covers deaths of patients up to 30 days after being discharged and included a high number of elderly patients nearing the end of their life.

South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust said its figures included Sunderland patients who died in St Benedict’s Hospice. Without them the death rate is within the expected range.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust said a “comprehensive programme of work to make care more safe and effective is under way and mortality data from that is now showing a significant improvement”.

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust is probing the figures and said the trust continued “to maintain the highest standards of care”.

Weston Area Health NHS Trust said it was investigating, pointed out the high number of elderly people in its area and said “patient safety will always our prime concern”. Southend University Hospital said a Mortality Surveillance Group is meeting monthly to carry out case note reviews.

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have a robust system in place to review patient deaths.”

And Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We regularly review performance to ensure emerging trends are identified and immediate steps are taken.”