Health expert calls for inquiry into death rates at 25 NHS trusts

The government has been called upon by a leading expert to investigate 25 NHS trusts over their abnormally high death rates.

Professor Sir Brian Jarman told the BBC that thousands more patients had died at the trusts in question in 2007-9 than would have been expected.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust in Surrey and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust were among the authorities implicated by the research upon which the expert based his warning.

All of these trusts had a higher than expected hospital standardised mortality ratio, with Professor Jarman suggesting this could potentially indicate wider patient care problems.

He added: “My main concern is that the government only focuses on self-inspection rather than launching wider inquiries. That is why I have decided to take action.”

Responding to Professor Jarman’s warning, a Department of Health spokesperson expressed confidence that the Care Quality Commission will be able to address any problems with underperformance among NHS hospitals.