MORTALITY rates are continuing to fall at Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust, new figures have revealed.
Overall Hospital Standardised Mortal- ity Rates have dropped from 108.6 for 2008/2009 to 97 for the year the end of December 2009. The average is 100.
The statistics provide some positive news for the Trust following damning reports from health or
ganisations such as Dr Foster and the Care Quality Commission.
The Trust's chief executive Richard Sunley said: "After the publication of the Dr Foster guide in November we agreed to keep local stakeholders and members of the public regularly updated with both the good news and the bad and I am delighted to be able to announce a reduction in mortality rates.
"Since the publication of the Dr Foster Hospital Guide we have been working extremely hard to understand the results so that improvements could be made.
"We have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving patient safety. In addition we have reviewed our coding systems to ensure that the figures presented are an accurate portrayal of what is happening.
"These include the introduction of a patient comment card and patient safety advocates on every ward. We have also undertaken a staff survey so staff can influence where improvements need to be made.
"Patient safety executive walkarounds undertaken by members of the executive board have also been arranged to take place on a monthly basis.
"We continue to remain committed to providing patients with the best possible care and to ensure that their safety remains our number one priority."
Helen Noble, clinical governance manager, who has been leading the patient safety agenda said: "We have introduced a number of changes to ensure that patient safety remains and is always a priority in the minds of our staff.
"Patients at both Scarborough and Bridlington Hospitals are now given a patient safety postcard which asks them four questions about the care they received.
"Feedback from patients to date has been extremely positive with 86 per cent of the cards we have received back answering yes to every question.
"Patients should expect to feel safe in hospital and this feedback is extremely reassuring to know that our patients do feel safe coming into our hospitals."
