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Hospital Trusts (Essex)

I hear what the hon. Gentleman says. I asked the same question of Monitor and the CQC last week, which was: when were the concerns identified and has there been improvement? I am assured—I will write to him with the figures—that there has been a discernible improvement on the mortality ratio at the trust over this year. I will give him the figures that indicate that the plan that had been developed, which I referred to in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay), is having some effect. Nevertheless, I hear what the hon. Gentleman says about whether that improvement has been speedy enough. That was why a decision was taken to escalate the action. There has been a significant focus on the trust over this year, which suggests that the regulatory regime picked up the concerns at the trust. I expect to see immediate improvements as a result of the actions that have now been taken, and will report to all hon. Members on those improvements as they follow.