The Hospital Guide shows wide variation in results (From The Northern Echo)

The Hospital Guide shows wide variation in results

8:22am Monday 30th November 2009 in

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PATIENTS face a wide variation in safety at hospitals across the North-East and North Yorkshire, according to an independent survey published yesterday.

The Hospital Guide shows huge differences in the results for neighbouring areas with the region boasting one of the highest ratings but also the second lowest.

The report, by Dr Foster, an organisation that collates healthcare data, identifies 27 trusts with unusually high mortality rates – including North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust – totalling 5,000 more than expected.

The research uncovered 209 cases across the country where swabs or drills were left inside patients, 82 cases of surgeons operating on the wrong part of the body and 478 operations cancelled because patient notes were missing.

Roger Taylor, director of Dr Foster, said: “No hospital in the world would claim to be free of these kinds of errors.

“But what has been learned over the years is that recording what is happening, and making that information generally public, is the best way to start tackling the issues.”

The Conservatives have called for a massive overhaul of the inspection regime, adding that the data highlighted an “extraordinary contrast” between the Hospital Guide and official “box ticking” assessments.

The Care Quality Commission watchdog had already given good or excellent ratings to nine of the 12 worst performing trusts. Its head, Baroness Young, has responded by saying the data was very legitimate, but also “quite alarmist”.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is rated as the sixth best-performing for patient safety. Scoring 95.89, it covers The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and the Friarage, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Chief executive Simon Peydell said the results were a positive reflection on the services the trust provided.

“They are a credit and testament to our staff who work hard throughout the year.”

At the other end of the scale, Scarborough and North-East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust is the second lowest, with just 2.05. North Tees Trust and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust are both banded in the second lowest group. All three trusts cover areas bordered by South Tees.

Laura Robson, director of nursing in County Durham and Darlington, said: “We will be carefully reviewing the results and implementing any necessary action.”

Sue Smith, director of nursing and patient safety at North Tees and Hartlepool, said the trust had met its target of reducing mortality rates by 15 per cent per year.

She added: “At the time it seemed an almost impossible task. However, we were informed by Dr Foster in October that we had indeed achieved that figure. Not surprisingly, I was very disappointed when I learned of the figures in the Dr Foster report, not just for myself but our staff who have worked so hard to improve patient safety.”

Simon Jones, director of planning and performance at Scarborough, stressed the hospital was improving.

He added: “We know that many of the areas where we were rated weak in 2008 to 2009, we have already started to tackle, and so we know that we will see a much better picture reflected next year.”