HC Deb 24 November 1999 vol 339 cc144-5W
Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the mortality rates for each category of operations at each NHS hospital in the latest year for which figures are available. [98498]

Mr. Denham

Earlier this year the Department published a range of clinical indicators including hospital death rates, with the aim of allowing National Health Service organisations to explore their position relative to other similar organisations and investigate differences.

Recommendations for potential future indicators have been made in a recent series of commissioned Health Outcome Indicator reports, including some further mortality indicators. The Public Health Development Unit of the NHS Executive is now discussing these recommendations with policy colleagues, and hopes to publish further operation specific indicators in the next publication, due in spring/summer 2000.

Subject to consultation and approval these operation specific indicators may include further mortality rate indicators, than those already published in June 1999. However this may not be possible until the 2000–01 publication.

Copies of the clinical indicators are available in the Library and on the internet.