The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has been named in an independent report as having mortality rates that are consistently lower than would be expected.

The report, by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, showed that mortality rates for both elective and emergency admissions at the trust were lower than the overall rates for England.

The trust was named as one of 15 trusts in England with lower than expected ratios between July 2013 and June 2014. The report was based on summary hospital-level mortality indicator (SHMI) data.

The SHMI compares the number of patients who die following hospitalisation at a trust with the number who would be expected to die, given the characteristics of the patients treated there. Different categories used by the SHMI to describe mortality ratios are: ‘as expected’, ‘higher than expected’ or ‘lower than expected’.

The SHMI is different from other mortality indicators as it considers all deaths that take place in a trust as well as those taking place within 30 days of the patient’s discharge. It therefore offers a more comprehensive picture of deaths following hospital care.

Professor Stephen Powis, medical director, said: “This is very reassuring news for our patients. We are incredibly proud to have low mortality rates, which are a reflection on the high standards of clinical care delivered by our staff.”

Read the full report.  

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contacts: joannajohnson@nhs.net

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver, kidney and bone marrow transplantation, haemophilia, renal, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London.