Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt orders annual review of 'avoidable deaths' in NHS hospitals

Mr Hunt has warned that 1,000 patients are dying unnecessarily each month

Mr Hunt warned that 1,000 patients are dying unnecessarily each month in NHS hospitals (Getty Images)

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced an unprecedented annual review into "avoidable deaths" in hospitals – which he has described as the "biggest scandal in global healthcare".

The study ordered by the Conservative politician of about 2,000 patient case notes will see England become the first country in the world to monitor the extent of preventable deaths.

He warned that 1,000 preventable deaths occur each month in NHS hospitals, and he told the Sunday Telegraph that the intention to improve the safety record will be the “most profound change” during his time in charge.

“It is about changing behaviour and the way everyone works in the NHS,” he said.

Mr Hunt used improvements in death rates in other industries to illustrate his plan. He said that the number of global deaths in commercial aviation have since dropped from 2,000 in the 1970s to 500.

He said: “This is the biggest scandal in global healthcare. Why hasn't the health service adopted the kinds of standards we now take for granted in the airline and nuclear industry?”

The key was encouraging staff to raise concerns, he added.

This week a report on the treatment of whistle-blowing NHS staff will be published by Sir Robert Francis, who led an inquiry into Mid Staffs Hospital where at least 1,200 patients died due to sub-standard care.

A “significant reduction” in the overall death rate in 11 NHS trusts that were put into special measures was stated in a report by healthcare analysts Dr Foster that was published today.

In the planned annual reviews, hospitals will be placed into bands depending on the number of estimated deaths by March next year, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said.

Mr Hunt said he is “determined to go even further in rooting out poor care”.

”I want all hospital boards to have a laser-like focus on eradicating avoidable deaths in their organisation; even one life lost to poor care or safety error is too many,” he added.

Hospital mortality rates expert, Professor Nick Black said the review would "provide a basis for stimulating quality improvement in each individual hospital”.

Additional reporting by PA