All three NHS Lanarkshire acute hospitals are in the top ten in Scotland with significant reductions in hospital standardised mortality ratios (HSMR).

In recently published figures it shows that University Hospital Monklands has the lowest HSMR at 0.68 of any of the 29 participating Hospitals.

University Hospital Wishaw is the most improved mainland Hospital with a 30.6 per cent reduction and NHS Lanarkshire is the most improved mainland board with figures showing their HSMR at 0.75 and a 25.9 per cent reduction.

Dr Jane Burns, medical director for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I am delighted with the recently published figures. All of our staff work extremely hard to provide the best quality service to our patients.
“While many contributory factors drive changes in HSMR, these figures reflect very positively on the hard work and dedication of our staff across all three acute hospitals in Lanarkshire, who are doing excellent work to improve the safe care of our patients.”

HSMR has been reported to all Scottish hospitals participating in the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) since December 2009. This single quality indicator has been used by Heathcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to reflect patient safety and use as a flag for engagement with Boards where there is an upward change in HSMR.

Commenting on the recent figures, Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, said: “Along with a number of other contributory factors the Scottish Patient Safety Programme is helping us reduce hospital mortality and reduce avoidable harm at every stage of care.”

He added: “There is a strong commitment to patient safety right across Scotland’s NHS, and the performance of NHS Lanarkshire’s acute hospital is a reflection of that. I congratulate Lanarkshire’s staff for their efforts.”