SOUTH Durham NHS Trust has been asked to investigate baffling statistics showing an abnormal number of deaths during routine orthopaedic operations.

A Commission for Health Improvement(CHI) report published on Tuesday says the mortality rate was 81pc higher than the England average.

Researchers were equally puzzled that deaths of emergency patients in the same speciality were 34pc lower than average.

John Saxby, chief executive, said: "I don't believe either figure. We think they've got them wrong and it is a statistical error.

"We could count the number of deaths through elective orthopaedic surgery in the past 12 months on the fingers of both hands.

"The sort of death rate figures they are using would be for about 200 patients.

"We have to check the accuracy or otherwise of all this. If we have non emergency deaths twice the national average we clearly have a bit of a problem."

The CHI uses an independent company to assess the raw data from the trust which has a similar contract with another company which painted a completely different picture.

Mr Saxby said the CHI had made a previous error in Chesterfield when it announced that the medical death rate was 50pc above the average.

"Three months later it had to say sorry, the company who did the data got it wrong. In fact it was 3pc below average. So now I am anxious that we get this information verified."

The orthopaedic department was singled out for criticism in the report following the three month review during which patients and staff all had their say.

The CHI said it had some serious issues with the consultants and it was clear that the group did not work as a team.

It also pointed out that bullying and harassment policies did not appear to work within that department and staff lacked confidence that their comments, grievances or complaints would be acted upon to their satisfaction.

Mr Saxby agreed: "We had a group who cherished their individuality as vital leaders in clinical practice, but did not support working as a multi-disciplinary team to make it a better service.

"There is ample evidence of solid team work in the other ten specialities, where there are equally strong minded individuals.

"Recent departures of a couple of members of staff - and the people who have replaced them - will allow this situation to alter rapidly."

However claims that staff were afraid to blow the whistle on colleagues came as a shock.

"We have had a staff service for three years and this year introduced an independent confidential help line.

"We clearly have to work with staff representatives and find out why people feel they can't speak freely."

* Trust services praised: page 3