Internal review of Mater deaths

An internal review was undertaken in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin after a national audit of our hospitals showed it had a higher-than-average mortality rate due to specific illnesses.

The internal review looked at chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis.

The situation in the Mater came to light as a result of the National Office of Clinical Audit’s (NOCA) first report from the National Audit of Hospital Mortality (NAHM), which was published yesterday.

“One hospital (Mater) had a standardised mortality rate (SMR) above the upper control limit in 2015, meaning that this SMR was higher than could be explained by chance,” read the audit report.

As a result of this finding the hospital undertook its own review.

“An internal review of deaths… has not provided a de?nitive explanation, neither has it raised any immediate concerns. It has, however, raised questions for further consideration,” said Gordon Dunne, CEO of the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

Dr Brian Creedon, chairman of NAHM’s governance committee said yesterday, the fact that the Mater was above the upper control limit, did not necessarily reflect on the care in the hospital.

“Rather than saying that’s an issue of care in that hospital, it’s important that you go back and that hospital looks at its data. If its data is inaccurate then that may explain why that signal is there,” Dr Creedon explained.

In the response given by Mater CEO, he said that palliative care was not necessarily related.

“In exploring the data, we have concluded in general that the inclusion of palliative care-associated mortality has not signi?cantly contributed to this change in mortality rate,” he said.