Hospitals trust reveals nine avoidable deaths
Nine avoidable deaths were recorded at Shropshire's two main hospitals last year, new figures have revealed.
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said 28 deaths were reported for review in 2012/13, with the majority not found to be avoidable.
But several of the deaths could have been avoided.
The trust has released the figures after a report claimed that the trust was among the 10 worst in the country for avoidable deaths.
The report said figures from the National Reporting and Learning System had recorded 29 avoidable deaths at the trust, which runs the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals.
But the trust said a report in a Sunday newspaper had "not accurately represented" the position because it used the number of cases put forward for review, instead of those which had been fully investigated. It said that 28 cases, rather than the 29 mentioned in the article had been sent for review.
Dr Edwin Borman, medical director at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: "The trust is very concerned, particularly because of our open and transparent reporting systems, that the report this weekend has not accurately represented the true position at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
"We use the National Reporting and Learning System to identify and initiate a review of all unexpected deaths, including some that have occurred outside of hospital, in order to assess all potentially relevant cases.
"Any death that is found, on rigorous review, to involve potentially avoidable factors is reported to the coroner and other appropriate bodies. Our records show that of the 29 deaths ascribed by the Mail on Sunday as avoidable to our trust, only nine did involve avoidable factors.
"Two occurred outside of the trust and the remaining 17 did not involve avoidable factors, but were reported in order to check whether there were any lessons to be learned. It is deeply disappointing that our open reporting system has been misinterpreted and used to criticise the trust, rather than being recognised as part of our commitment to providing patients with the safe and dignified care they expect and deserve."
