NHS England has released data about mortality rates following hospitalisation of patients recently, which names the 9 trusts with higher than expected numbers of deaths according to the Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI). Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), Deaths associated with hospitalisation, England, December 2024 – November 2025 – NHS England Digital.

What is SHMI?

SHMI compares the number of patients who died after hospital care at a trust with the number expected based on England-wide averages and patient characteristics. It includes deaths both in hospital and deaths within 30 days of discharge from the hospital.

Trust results are banded as ‘higher than expected’, ‘as expected’ or ‘lower than expected’ based on whether observed deaths fall outside an expected range set by NHS England. The expected number is a statistical estimate, not a patient count, and differences must not be read as avoidable or excess deaths.

Recent SHMI

The recently published SMHI (which was released on 9 April 2026, covering the period between 01 December 2024 to 30 November 2025) noted that approximately 9.3 million discharges led to 286,000 deaths in hospital or within 30 days, including deaths unrelated to the admission reason.

Out of the 118 Trusts, 9 of those had a higher than expected number of deaths over the 12 month period; 4 of those 9 Trusts were also higher in the same period the previous year. These trusts include: SHMI – Deaths associated with hospitalisation, England, December 2024 – November 2025: One Page Summary

• Blackpool Teaching Hospital NGS Foundation Trust
• Country Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
• East Cheshire NHS Trust
• East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Medway NHS Foundation Trust
• The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Morecambe Bay NHS foundation Trust
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

101 out of the 118 Trusts were within the expected range for the number of expected deaths and 8 trusts had a lower than expected number of deaths, these 8 Trusts also being lower in the same period the previous year, these being:

• Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
• London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust
• Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

It is worth noting that not all 118 Trusts records are complete and therefore the figures may not be 100% accurate. A higher rate of deaths at any one Trust does not necessarily show that there has been negligent care. It is also worth noting that the SHMI is not a direct measure of care quality and acts to assist hospitals in prompting any further investigation they deem necessary.

If a loved one has died in hospital or shortly after being discharged from hospital, our experienced clinical negligence team may be able to assist with investigating the circumstances of this and exploring whether the death could have been avoided. Whilst we appreciate that such investigations cannot bring a loved one back, we recognise the value in obtaining answers and justice for those who have been lost and we are here to support you every step of the way.