NHS Lanarkshire continues its excellent work to reduce hospital standardised mortality ratios (HSMR).

Figures reported across Scotland last year, showed the reduction in HSMR between 2009 and December 2015 was 16.5 per cent. 10, out of the 29 hospitals, achieved the 20 per cent target; including all three acute hospitals in Lanarkshire.

Dr Iain Wallace, medical director, said: “All of our staff should be very proud of their efforts to reduce mortality and enhance patient safety in our hospitals.

“Together we have introduced a range of initiatives and improvement works which enabled our sustained impressive performance against the national improvement aim.

“While majority of deaths in hospital are classed as being predicted due to the condition of the patient on admission, reducing mortality remains a key priority and we will continue to focus on improvements and prioritising the implementation of patient safety measures throughout our hospitals.”

HSMR is one measurement tool that compares a hospital’s mortality ratio with the overall average ratio.  The HSMR model was revised after 31 December 31 2015 with a new target reduction of a further 10 per cent reduction from January 2014 to December 2018. All three NHS Lanarkshire Hospitals are on course to achieve this.

The most recent HSMR figures, show that Wishaw General Hospital managed 22.2 per cent, Hairmyres Hospital had a 17.3 per cent reduction and Monklands Hospital achieved 16.1 per cent reduction.

Chief Executive, Calum Campbell, said: “I am extremely pleased with the recently published figures. Our clinical and managerial staff work hard to provide the best quality service to our patients and these figures show that they are doing an excellent job.

“I hope they offer added reassurance to our patients and the communities we serve about the safety and quality of the care provided in our hospitals.”