Eleven of the 14 hospital providers investigated because of high mortality ratios have been placed in “special measures”, the health secretary has announced.

Jeremy Hunt made the announcement in the Commons this afternoon, as the final reports of the review, led by NHS England medical director Sir Bruce Keogh, were published.

The 11 placed in special measures are:

  • North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust
  • Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Foundation Trust
  • Tameside Hospital Foundation Trust
  • United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust
  • Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation Trust
  • Burton Hospitals Foundation Trust
  • East Lancashire Hospitals Trust
  • George Eliot Hospital Trust
  • Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust
  • Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust
  • Medway Foundation Trust

The three which are not subject to special measures are:

  • Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust
  • The Dudley Group Foundation Trust
  • Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust

The government has created “special measures” for provider trusts in recent months as part of a new inspection and regulatory regime.

Mr Hunt said putting the 11 trusts into special measures would see them reviewed again within the next year, given additional support by either the NHS Trust Development Authority or Monitor, and have their governance reviewed.

Their progress against action plans drawn up by the Keogh review teams will be monitored. Mr Hunt said they would be monitored by the new chief inspector of hospitals, Sir Mike Richards, whose role is based within the Care Quality Commission. Ultimately, if trusts continue to fail, the “special measures” process can lead to action to remove their board members, or being placed in special administration and broken up.

Mr Hunt said: “This government is deeply proud of our NHS. Staff are the ones who are most betrayed when we ignore poor care.”

He said the CQC had previously “failed to spot any real cause for concern” at half of the 14 trusts, “rating them as compliant with basic standards”. He said this was “worrying”.

Mr Hunt said some had seen management change and improvement recently but said: “Failure or mediocrity is so deeply entrenched at some that further change is necessary.”

Themes identified across the trusts included “professional or geographical isolation”, “absence of a culture of openness”, “lack of ambition”, and problems with governance and assurance.

Mr Hunt said all 14 trusts had been placed “on notice” by Monitor – for foundation trusts – or the NHS Trust Development Authority, for non-foundation trusts.

The review was ordered by the prime minister following the publication of the Francis report into Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust.

More on the Keogh review

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