Written question asked by Mark Simmonds (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 December 2009. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date his Department was first informed of the high standardised mortality rates at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Answer: Hospital Standardised Mortality Rates have been published on the NHS Choices website since April 2009 and are normally updated monthly. However, it can take several months to verify and check the raw data before it can be used reliably and placed on the website.In addition, the Care Quality Commission alerts individual national health statistics organisations to high specialty mortality ratios and they can then pursue any issue arising with the NHS organisation concerned until it is satisfactorily resolved. The Department does not routinely receive reports of high specialty mortality ratios on open cases at individual trusts.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made an oral statement about Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust in the House on 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 855.

Secondary information