Indicator Reason for choice % of finished consultant episodes with complications (recorded)* High levels might be associated with poor surgical skills Mean length of spell (days) Long stay might be caused by high levels of complications % Of finished consultant episodes with more than two operations (recorded) High proportion might be the result of poor surgical technique necessitating further surgery % of finished consultant episodes where spell is longer than episode High levels might imply complications requiring transfer to another specialist % of finished consultant episodes for dilatation and curettage on women aged <40 High proportion might imply inappropriate practice % of finished consultant episodes for sterilisation on women aged <25 High proportion might imply inappropriate practice % of finished consultant episodes for hysterectomy on women aged <30 High proportion might imply inappropriate practice

^* Complications were obtained by scanning all seven hospital episode statistics diagnostic fields for ICD-9 codes 996-999 and ICD-10 codes T80-T88: "Complications of surgical and medical care not elsewhere classified."