Fall in deaths

Each year, independent group Dr Foster Research publishes its hospital standardised mortality rates (HSMRs) for all trusts.

The mortality rate measures the likelihood of someone dying compared to actual death rates.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, which runs Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract hospitals, had an HSMR of 114 in 2008/09, 14 points above the national average.

But the latest report found its HSMR for 2009/10 was 102.64, compared to the national average of 100.

Trust medical director Professor Tim Hendra said it showed the trust compared well against other hospital trusts when it came to patient safety.

He said: “We are pleased to have seen a continued year-on-year reduction in our mortality rates. We aim to make further improvements and to be in the top 25 per cent of high performing Trusts nationally.”

However, the report did name the trust as one of those with poorer data-recording and a low number of incidents.

It said this could mean staff felt unable to report incidents but could also mean there were simply fewer incidents.

Prof Hendra said staff were encouraged to report any incident or near miss and the trust had actually seen an increase in the number of incidents reported over the last five years.