NEQOS has provided quarterly hospital mortality reports to the north east health economy since 2010. The reports cover all aspects of the statistical monitoring of hospital mortality, whilst also following the debate as measures like SHMI were developed (Paula Whitty, Director of NEQOS, chaired the national Technical Sub-Group) and controversy has continued over the link to avoidable mortality and seven day services. Tony Roberts is the lead epidemiologist for this work and emphasises the care that is taken in writing a clear and balanced narrative that explains the data presented in these reports.
The objective of the Mortality Monitoring report is to give hospital mortality monitoring data and benchmarking to assist with assurance for both providers and commissioners. It is provided to our subscribers and covers the acute providers within the Academic Health Science Network: North East and North Cumbria (AHSN-NENC) area. Comparative data allows subscribers to compare their statistics with other organisations across the region, as well as against the national average.
Our analysts and epidemiologists highlight exceptional areas, flagging them for subscriber attention and advising on their significance and where possible provides recommendations for action. Any significant concerns identified in this report can be expanded on for a specific organisation. NEQOS have conducted a number of ‘deep dive’ analyses in Trusts in the north east. As well as detailed analysis of mortality and contextual indicators (including place of death, palliative care coding, and data quality) these have involved qualitative work interviewing senior executives and clinicians to build up a picture of services and of assurance in relation to mortality.
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