Inquiry urged into death rates after surgery at city's hospitals

The 2010 Dr Foster Hospital Guide claimed death rates were higher than expected at Hull's hospitals during 2009-10.

It found they were low at other major centres in the region including Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds, but pointed to concerns about orthopaedic and stroke care in Leeds.

Dr Foster said the higher death rates in Hull were "warning signs" which should prompt further investigation.

It has raised concerns about rates at 19 NHS hospital trusts in England, down from 27 last year, but only two, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, also recorded a high number of deaths after surgery. Death rates after surgery at Hull were the highest.

Dr Foster researchers measured deaths after surgery for the first time for patients who developed complications including internal bleeding, pneumonia or a blood clots. Experts say better procedures can minimise risks.

Roger Taylor, director of research, said: "Mortality rates are just one of a wide range of indicators that can be used to identify standards of care and should not be looked at in isolation. However, where trusts have high mortality rates – particularly if they have high rates in more than one area – it warrants investigation."

Phil Morley, chief executive of Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said mortality rates were improving and he was confident safety standards and quality of care were high. And he warned that death rates were influenced by "external factors" such as the overall health of the local population and the relatively high rate of palliative care provided to dying patients.

"Our most up-to-date figures show that the trust's position is once again considerably better than the figures in this report show and does not accurately reflect the significant improvements we have made recently. We are working hard to ensure our staff recognise when patients require early and specialist intervention in their care and we are listening to external experts to ensure we are receiving the best possible advice to help us make further improvements.

"Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire is a deprived area of the country with specific health issues, including some of the highest rates for smoking and alcohol abuse in the country, so it will take time to turn this around."

Hospitals in Leeds were criticised over orthopaedic care amid claims it was the only NHS trust in England to perform poorly across six indicators of clinical quality. Readmission rates for hip replacements were 75 per cent above average. Dr Foster said the trust also scored poorly in the guide's assessment of care for stroke patients.

Hospital officials said they had previously acknowledged patients undergoing surgery for broken hips had suffered delays but major improvements had been made. Deaths following surgery were "very significantly lower than expected". It was examining if figures for readmission rates were accurate but had already established the data used to analyse stroke care was wrong.

Medical director Peter Belfield said: "We are pleased that this independent assessment once again confirms that the trust is performing very well overall in terms of mortality rates."

Airedale Hospital, near Keighley, was awarded the title of "small hospital of the year" for the fourth time in five years.