NHS Lanarkshire has exceeded a national improvement aim to reduce hospital standardised mortality ratios (HSMR) by 20%.

Calum Campbell, NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive, 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.”

HSMR is one measurement tool that compares a hospital’s mortality ratio with the overall average ratio. The ratio provides a starting point to assess the factors that can influence mortality and identify areas for improvement.

The most recent HSMR figures show that Monklands Hospital achieved 25.4 per cent reduction, Wishaw General Hospital managed 22.7 per cent and Hairmyres Hospital had a 20.7 per cent reduction.

Professor Jason Leitch, Clinical Director for NHS Scotland said: “These figures are excellent and the staff at NHS Lanarkshire are to be commended for all that they have done to reduce mortality at their hospitals by so much and in such a short time.”

Robbie Pearson, Acting Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, added: “NHS Lanarkshire has clearly made significant progress in improving services for patients and families since the Healthcare Improvement Scotland rapid review carried out in 2013.

“This reflects favourably on the hard work and dedication of the staff at NHS Lanarkshire.”

NHS Lanarkshire introduced a range of initiatives and improvement works which enabled their sustained impressive performance against the national improvement aim. When tracked over time, HSMR indicates how successful this work has been.

Dr Jane Burns, NHS Lanarkshire Acute Divisional 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 achieved an overall improvement in our unscheduled care performance, we have reduced length of stay and unplanned readmissions and we have earlier recognition and treatment of patients whose condition is deteriorating.

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