THE trust which runs Fairfield Hospital has the second lowest mortality rate in the North West, according to the latest figures.

Figures published this week show that the Hospital Standardised Mortality Rate (HSMR) for Pennine Acute Trust, covering the period from April, 2012, to March, 2013, was 92.94 per 1,000 people.

The figure meant fewer patients than expected died, and ranked the trust as the second highest performing for low mortality rates out of 22 other acute hospital trusts.

At the end of August, 2013, the figure had dropped further to 82.48 per 1,000 people.

Dr Roger Prudham, the trust’s deputy medical director, said: “Mortality ratios are a statistical method using an index number to compare a hospital’s expected number of deaths with the actual number of deaths. Many factors contribute to patient mortality such as the age and sex of patients, their primary diagnosis and complicating factors, and their length of stay in hospital. This steady but continuous improvement is excellent news of which the trust should be proud.

“We must, however, continue to focus on reducing our hospital mortality to further demonstrate that our hospitals and services are safe and quality care and patient safety remains our top priority.”

He added: “We are looking to work more closely with colleagues in our local partner health and social care agencies and nursing homes to improve mortality in our local communities.”

The trust, which covers North Manchester, Rochdale Infirmary and Royal Oldham hospitals as well as Fairfield, recently published its five-year Quality Strategy, setting a target of achieving a trust-wide HSMR of 80 within five years.