The hospital trust serving Bexley and Bromley has been ranked one of the worst in the country for patient safety.
South London Healthcare is placed a lowly 141st out of 146 trusts by the Dr Foster Hospital Guide, which draws from data such as mortality rates, response times and the ratio of hospital beds to staff.
The trust – which oversees the running of Queen Mary’s in Sidcup, the Princess Royal in Orpington, the Beckenham Beacon and the Orpington Hospital – scored just 4.8 out of 100 for patient safety, with higher than average death rates for heart attack victims, patients admitted with broken hips and those admitted for low-risk procedures.
However, bosses say the data used in the report was collected before last April when South London Healthcare was formed following the merger of three smaller hospital trusts.
A statement read: “Since the merger we have placed our highest priority on improving patient safety.
“In eight months we have reduced our infection rates and improved our survival rates so that in both areas we are performing above the national average.
“In the previous year (08/09), the three sites had a total of 26 MRSA bloodstream infections, and this year we have had 10 to date.
“Every single case of MRSA infection is one too many and we’ll be satisfied when we have none.”
There was better news for East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, which ranked 13th in the Dr Foster table with a score of 92.47 and was placed in the top band for patient safety.
The trust – which runs hospitals in Canterbury, Ashford, Margate, Dover and Folkestone – also had a lower than average death rate.
Chief executive Stuart Bain said: “We are obviously delighted to have achieved so highly in this report.
“Patient safety is our number one priority and we are always looking for ways to improve further.”
Meanwhile, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells was ranked 38th in the table with a score of 72.6, Dartford and Gravesham 72nd (52.05) and Medway a lowly 91st (36.3).
A Medway spokeswoman said the trust had made improvements in data collection and end-of-life care since the figures for the report were taken.
She also pointed out that the guide highlights the trust for outstanding performance in three areas – lowering mortality rates, gall bladder surgery and broken hip surgery.
POSTED: 05/12/2009 11:00:00
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