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| Fewer people die at the Free |
Report puts hospital at top of table,
but critics question the stats
THE Royal Free Hospital has the lowest mortality rate in the
United Kingdom, a report has found.
The Dr Foster Health Guide reports on every British hospital and
is undertaken by independent researchers at Imperial College and
a team of market analysts.
The findings potentially show the hospital, in Pond Street, Hampstead,
as saving lives at a higher rate than any other.
The research led by Professor Brian Jarman, who lives in Swiss Cottage,
allows patients to find the best hospital.
For the purposes of the report the national average is fixed at
100 per cent, and each hospital’s mortality rate is compared
to that.
According to the report, available on the internet, the Free’s
mortality rate is 27 per cent better than the national average.
The Royal Free’s closest neighbours, the Whittington and University
College London, also have mortality rates below the national average
with 14 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.
The mortality rates – based on statistics for the year ending
March 2005 – mirror grim life expectancy statistics released
by the Camden Primary Care Trust in 2004 that show people from Hampstead
are living up to 10 years longer than those living near the Whittington
in Archway or UCLH in south Camden.
Prof Jarman, ex-president of the British Medical Association, said
the mortality rates – which take into account sex, age, reason
for admission and social deprivation – were a sign of quality
care.
He said: “Whether a patient lives or dies is the crucial performance
indicator by which a hospital can be judged.”
But Professor Nick Black, who has worked in the School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine in Keppel Street for 20 years and lives in
Islington, said mortality rates were a misleading judge of the quality
of care.
He said: “Camden people should be delighted that they are less
likely to die in the Royal Free – if only that was the case.
“It’s fine to judge hospitals on things like waiting lists,
if the statistics are accurate.
“But mortality rates either mislead people into thinking care
is better in one hospital than the other or worry them unnecessarily.
“The survey is based on routine NHS figures that are not rigorous
enough. It does not take into account individual records or whether
a hospital accepts many severely ill patients or whether they discharge
patients to die at home.
“The report says they take into account social deprivation
but they cannot really be a judge of this on an individual basis
– every area has a range of sick and well people.”
A Royal Free spokesperson said: “We are delighted. We hope
that this reassures and encourages our patients that we are providing
a quality service.”
Dr Foster’s report includes a breakdown of operation waiting
times, a ratio of nurses per 100 beds and even the quality of ward
food – the Royal Free did not score so highly on this count,
scoring three out of five. Rivals the Whittington and UCLH scored
full marks for their meals. |
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