NHS inquiry on Dudley hospital deaths
Dudley's hospital trust is to be investigated over high death rates in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal.
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, is one of 14 trusts across the country being probed.
NHS medical director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, said the trusts face examination following the Francis inquiry highlighting failings in Mid-Staffordshire.
Dudley Group chief executive Paula Clarke today defended its record but welcomed the investigation to give "further reassurance" to patients.
The number of patient deaths at the hospital was above expected levels in 2011/12, the Doctor Foster Hospital Guide found.
At Dudley Group the hospital standardised mortality rating, which measures deaths while in hospital care, was 111.1 between April 2011 and March 2012. The expected level is 100.
Sir Bruce said: "The purpose of my investigation is to assure patients, public and Parliament that these hospitals understand why they have a high mortality and have all the support they need to improve," he said.
Mrs Clarke today said its current death rates are "within the expected range" and had been showing continuing improvement over the past year. "We welcome this review as we believe it will give further reassurance around the safety and quality of our services," she said.
She added the trust has a number of measures in place to ensure patient safety.
Meanwhile, the Dudley Group and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust are among at least 10 nationally where former patients and their families have contacted law firm Leigh Day.
Lawyers say they are are investigating the complaints.
