Lawyers React As New Data Shows Death Rate ‘Is Highest In UK’

Lessons must be learned from concerning new figures which show a higher than expected death rate being reported at hospitals across the Black Country and Staffordshire, according to legal experts.

Across hospitals in the Black Country and Staffordshire, more than 1,000 patients died than were expected.

The NHS Digital figures, reported in the Express and Star, showed The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust posted the worst unexpected death rate in the UK last year. The paper reports that the organisation, which operates New Cross Hospital, recorded 2,654 deaths across 2017 - the highest rate in the UK and a figure thought to be around 22 per cent higher than the expected level.

Such findings also mean the Trust is one of 13 in the UK to report higher than expected death rates for last year, with the management team at the Trust telling the newspaper that it has undertaken internal and external reviews to identify the issues behind the figures.

Reacting to the data, specialist medical negligence lawyers at national law firm Irwin Mitchell have urged that the Trust continues its work to provide reassurances regarding the quality of care available.

Tom Fletcher, medical law expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, said: 

Expert Opinion

“Many people in the local area will undoubtedly be concerned by this news and will want to know that steps are being taken to ensure that patient safety standards do not fall below the expected level.

“Sadly, through our work we have seen too many occasions when patients have been adversely affected by problems in the delivery of care.

“These figures are a major concern and there must be a significant improvement on the death rate for this year and beyond. Lessons have to be learned from this data.” Tom Fletcher - Partner

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in medical negligence cases.