John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospital trusts were in special measures in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.
Ben Gummer:
Following the publication in February 2013 of Robert Francis’s report into care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Sir Bruce Keogh led a review of 14 trusts that had high mortality rates. The Keogh Review identified significant problems relating to quality and safety and/or leadership in all of these trusts and in July 2013, the decision was taken to place 11 trusts into ‘special measures’. Special measures is a robust and targeted regime agreed between the Care Quality Commission, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority.
A total of 14 trusts were placed in special measures in 2013. In 2014 an additional four trusts entered special measures and six trusts exited the regime.
To date a total of 21 trusts have been placed in special measures and seven have exited the regime, having shown notable improvements. We believe that special measures is an effective way of confronting poor care and improving performance, often in hospitals that had shown significant issues including before 2010.”