Press release: NHS Confederation comment on hospitals publishing mortality data

25 Aug 2005

The NHS Confederation, which represents more than 90 per cent of NHS organisations, welcomes the decision by St George's Hospital in Tooting to publish all its mortality data online.

Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the Confederation, says: "In principle, we believe that the more information that is made available to patients, the better because that's the basis for patients making truly informed choices about their own care.

"However, crude figures alone are not enough - data needs to be adjusted to take into account the complexity of procedures being undertaken and the severity of patients' conditions because, if that's not done, then patients can end up making the wrong choices.

"We also strongly believe that raw mortality data must be accompanied by clear interpretation and explanation of what the data means."

Ends

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90 per cent of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland. 

 

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