Report slams 'official' NHS trust ratings
Independent report finds 12 hospital trusts are 'significantly underperforming'
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 30, Nov 2009 12:39
By Maria Tonelli.
A damning report has found 12 hospital trusts are 'significantly underperforming'-
despite nine of them being rated 'good' or 'excellent' by official regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The report by the Dr Foster monitoring body also found 5,024 people with low-risk conditions died in hospital last year and at least 209 'foreign objects' were left behind in patients' bodies after surgery.
This has led to criticism about how hospital trusts are rated and highlights the need for rapid improvement of NHS services.
Roger Taylor, director and cofounder of Dr Foster, said: "Over the last nine years of the hospital guide we have seen a steady improvement in hospital performance but unacceptable variation between hospitals still exists. Dr Foster will continue to publish data in order to provide information to the public, drive improvement in patient care and save lives."
Despite the criticism, the report also points out a change of attitude and openness from NHS trusts which should be 'rewarded'.
Health minister Mike O'Brien insists "there is still a lot of work to be done" and the NHS was a "lot better than it had ever been". He also defended the work of the CQC as more reliable and broader in scope than independent monitoring organisations.
Health secretary Andy Burnham responded to the report in the House of Commons. He said: "There is never any room for complacency. Patient safety must be the priority."
A spokesman from the Department of Health earlier told inthenews.co.uk: "We have made real improvements in recent years and England is recognised as one of the world leaders in the international drive to improve the safety of healthcare.
"The vast majority of patients experience high quality, safe and effective care and the CQC's recent survey which showed that 93 per cent of patients rate their overall care as good or excellent," he added.
Bottom of Dr Foster's league table was Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which had an emergency task force ordered in to improve standards last week.