HEALTH bosses have denied claims that closing an accident and emergency department at Newark hospital has cost lives.
Reports at the weekend suggested the death rate had risen after the emergency department closed two years ago.
A Sunday newspaper looked at death rates of emergency patients between 2009 and 2012.
During that period the newspaper said the rate had risen from 3.53 per cent (192 patients) to 4.85 per cent (264 patients).
But Amanda Sullivan, chief officer of Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group, said the story was misleading and could cause "unnecessary alarm".
The commissioning group then released its own figures which showed that during the same period (2009-12) the death rate had in fact risen, but by different amounts – from 4.4 per cent to 5.1 per cent.
However, the group also released data on the death rate from emergency admissions as far back as 2007, which showed that during a six year period the death rate had fluctuated both ways, but had remained largely level.
Ms Sullivan said: "Figures published in the tabloid press which suggest a sharp increase in mortality rates are misleading and were not validated before they were published. This may have caused unnecessary alarm and I would like to reassure Newark residents that the emergency services they receive from the NHS are safe.
"Deaths of patients from the Newark and Sherwood area following admission via A&E are not on the rise. Official CCG figures show that the changes at Newark Hospital in 2011 have not had a negative impact on patient care."
She said her researchers had checked the figures using official data sources.
"These clearly show no increase in death rates," she said. "The reclassification of Newark A&E to a Minor Incident Unit in April 2011 was for compelling safety reasons.
"Newark is a very small hospital (less than 60 beds) and has never had the infrastructure to support a modern A&E service (for example intensive care services and emergency surgery).
"There is clear evidence that people who have heart attacks and strokes need prompt treatment at a specialist centre, where the specialist staff and facilities are best placed to treat people. Mortality from these causes is on the decline locally."
But Paul Baggaley – a Newark Town Councillor and member of the Say Yes to Newark Hospital campaign – gave the commissioning group's retort short shrift.
He said: "They are quibbling about the figures and splitting hairs when overall what we are saying is true.
"Thank goodness for the free press."
