NHS Scotland orders inquiry into death rates at three hospitals

A review has been ordered into patient safety at three Scottish hospitals after concerns about higher than average mortality rates.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is due to report by the end of the year on any recommendations for improvement at Monklands, Wishaw, and Hairmyres hospitals, which are all in Lanarkshire.

The latest figures on standardised mortality ratios in Scottish hospitals have found Monklands and Wishaw to have higher than average rates, and it has also been decided that the review should be extended to nearby Hairmyres.

This comes at a time when hospital mortality …