Basic rankings can’t give patients the full picture

NHS England has published a table setting out trusts’ performance, ranking them on a range of key activities including planned treatment, A&E and cancer care. Responding, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles, said:

"Greater transparency is good and people should be able to see how their local NHS trust is performing.

"However there is a risk of comparing apples and pears, as the data doesn’t always capture differences between trusts in the services available, particularly for specialist providers.

"The data must be accurate, too. Even a small error could make a big difference to a trust’s ‘ranking’.

"Many trusts face particular challenges, for example as a result of local demographics, staffing or the quality of their buildings and equipment.

"Basic ‘rankings’ can’t give patients the full picture and it will be important to make sure that this approach doesn’t widen the gulf between trusts at the top of the table and those which – often for reasons beyond their control – need more support."