Latest news

Hospital death rates published
The government has published a new set of clinical indicators giving death rates in individual hospitals in England for the first time.

Attack on 'statistical artifacts'
Many hospitals that appeared to have delivered a poor service under the new indicators have dismissed the figures as inaccurate and misleading.

Tough tests for health authorities
The 41 so-called Higher Level Performance Indicators cover a broader spectrum of health care but have highlighted regional variations in quality.

Background and analysis

Why publish death rates?
BBC Health Correspondent Richard Hannaford examines what the public, the health service and the government can expect to get out of the new indicators.

How performance tables started
Performance indicators were introduced by the Conservatives in 1993, but Labour has expanded them to include death rates.

The old style: Last year's tables
Until now, performance tables for England have focussed on waiting lists and waiting times.