HOSPITALS in the region are failing to report incidents where patient safety has been compromised, new NHS data reveals.

Figures released for the first time today (Tuesday, June 24) also reveal that thousands of staff in the North-East and North Yorkshire would not recommend their hospital to a sick friend or relative.

However, the data showed that staff numbers were generally at safe levels across the region, while infection control and cleanliness was either good or okay at all hospitals checked.

The report was published to enable the public to compare key safety measures across hundreds of NHS trusts in England.

The data revealed that five hospitals - Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, University Hospital Of North Durham,South Tyneside District Hospital and Monkwearmouth Hospital - were rated as poor for reporting of safety incidents.

It is feared trusts are under-reporting incidents when patient safety has been put at risk.

Officials say that hospitals with a good reporting culture report the more serious incidents, but also reveal less serious incidents, which allows the organisation to learn and improve.

City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the two Sunderland hospitals, said the trust placed the highest possible priority on safety and the reporting of incidents.

"Providing a safe and secure environment is paramount in our service and the knowledge gained from the occasions when things do go wrong, is fed back into the system to ensure that we learn from mistakes," a spokesman added.

The data revealed that a large number of staff at many of the region's hospitals - including Darlington Memorial Hospital, Friarage Hospital, Bishop Auckland Hospital, University Hospital Of North Durham and University Hospital Of North Tees - would not recommend the standard of care at their hospital.

The NHS Staff Survey found that more than 40 per cent of staff in these hospitals would not be happy for their friend or relative to be treated at their workplace.

Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, and James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, were among hospitals which had safe staffing levels, according to the data.

Gill Hunt, deputy director of nursing at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation trust, which runs the hospitals, said: “We recognise that having the right number of nurses and midwives is essential for the delivery of high quality, safe and effective care and welcome the opportunity to share staffing levels with the public to provide assurance."

To review data for your local hospital, visit www.nhs.uk