Hospital death rates improving

Hospital death rates are improving according to figures released this week.

The NHS Information Centre’s Summary Hospital-Level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) statistics for July 2012 to June 2013, show that mortality rate for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust has improved again and remains in the ‘as expected’ range.

The SHMI score for the trust for this period stands at 109. This is a two-point improvement on the previous reported period when the figure stood at 111. Importantly, this latest result confirms that the Trust’s SHMI continues to be within the ‘as expected’ range and now has been since January 2013.

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The SHMI score relates to deaths recorded in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals and for 30 days after discharge from hospital.

Trust chief executive Karen Jackson said: “I’m very pleased to see that the mortality rate is continuing to improve. I hope patients are assured that their local hospital is a safe place to be treated, and our staff are working hard to ensure they receive good quality care with us.”

Trust chairman Dr James Whittingham said: “Once again I’d like to commend the Trust’s staff for their dedication. The continued steady improvement in the SHMI is really encouraging and reflects the quality of care which our doctors, nurses and support staff provide to patients. There is still more to do but this latest SHMI shows we continue to move in the right direction.”

The Trust was included in the Keogh review that took place in June last year. It is hitting all its targets for delivery of its Keogh action plan, which is monitored by the regulator for NHS foundation trusts.