Patient survival rates best in the NHS
30-Apr-2009
Data published for the first time today by NHS Choices puts the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust’s overall death rate as the lowest in the country.
For the period from July 2007 to July 2008, our hospital standardised mortality ratio (HSMR) was 71.9.
Chief Executive of The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust Fiona Wise said:
”Survival rates are an important indicator of the quality of care patients are receiving and for our rate to be the lowest in the country is a testament to our excellent clinical expertise, as well as the hard work and dedication of our staff.
Our mortality rates were already below the national average but in the past few years, we have been working hard to reduce our figures, in conjunction with improving the experience of our patients in our hospitals.”
Hospital standardised mortality ratios measure the overall rate of deaths within an NHS trust, compared with a national benchmark. 100 represents the national average expected mortality rate so each trust aims to be as far below 100 as it can achieve. The national benchmark is adjusted to reflect the demographic of the population the Trust services, so for example, factors such as gender, age and the level of deprivation in the area.
The Trust credits some of the improvements to an initiative to introduce checklists across eight key areas such as stroke, diarrhoea and vomiting, heart failure and MRSA. All staff across the Trust use the checklists, which set out the top five things they can do that are known to improve care and save lives.
The Trust was last year recognised by Dr Foster’s Hospital Guide, published on 17 November 2008, as one of the ‘most improved’ Trusts in the country for mortality rates.
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Notes to editors
1. Our checklists include the top five things that we know save lives and impact on overall mortality. For example, for diarrhoea and vomiting we know that isolating patients, maintaining good hand hygiene and reviewing antibiotics will all have a positive impact. Checklists cover central line asepsis, diarrhoea and vomiting, stroke, ventilator-acquired pneumonia, MRSA, heart failure, surgical site infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
2. For more information contact Fiona Wilde Communications Manager fiona.wilde@nwlh.nhs.uk or 020 8869 3701
3. For more information about the publication of hospital death rates and how Trusts compare click here for the NHS Choices website