COLCHESTER'S NHS hospitals will be investigated over high mortality rates in reaction to a major report on neglect at Stafford Hospital.

The NHS Commissioning Board's medical director, Sir Bruce Keogh, announced he would launch an immediate investigation into five trusts, including Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

The announcement follows the publication of the inquiry into mistreatment and neglect of patients at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The board said the five trusts were "outliers" on the official "Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator" (SHMI) for the last two years.

Further announcements on the terms of reference for the investigations will follow shortly.

See Thursday's Gazette for the full story.