More than 37 per-cent of Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust patients admitted with broken hips are not operated on within two days – significantly increasing their chances of dying.

Patients admitted on the weekend are also less likely to be treated within 24 hours, research company Dr Foster revealed this week.

The report, which looked at mortality rates at NHS Trusts across England, found BHR had an 8 per-cent higher than average mortality rate of patients in hospital.

However, the trust, which runs Queen’s Hospital in Romford, had a 4 per-cent lower than average rate of deaths within 30 days of discharge.

The 2010/2011 report added that 37.1 per-cent of patients admitted with broken hip bones, usually elderly, were not treated within two days. This was higher than the national average of 30 per-cent.

The report said: “If you break your hip you have a one-in-ten chance of dying. But the odds of survival are much better if you are treated quickly – ideally within two days. If you are admitted on a Friday or Saturday your chances of prompt treatment are lower.”

The report added: “Your chances of surviving hospital treatment depend not just on where you are treated but also when. Patients admitted as an emergency at weekends are significantly more likely to die. The hospitals with the fewest senior doctors available at weekends have the highest mortality rates.”

The report also found there were .78 deaths in low risk conditions per 1,000 patients. There were also 115 deaths after surgery.

The Dr Foster report, which works closely with the Department of Health, found only 26 per-cent of patients would recommend Queen’s Hospital in Romford to a friend – the third lowest in the country.

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust had highest mortality rates both within hospital -19 per-cent - and within 30 days of discharge - 15 per-cent.

BHR Trust Chief executive, Averil Dongworth, said: “We are delighted that we have performed so well in two important areas – discharging patients at weekends, and obstetric trauma.

“This shows that our on-going work to ensure that patients receive the best possible care out of hours is paying dividends. And I am particularly pleased that the vast majority of women giving birth in our hospitals can expect to have a trouble-free, natural delivery.

“The mortality rate published by Dr Foster is at odds with the Department of Health’s recent hospital mortality indicators which showed that the Trust had better than average death rates.

“However, we have been working with Dr Foster to analyse its data. Dr Foster believes that we may be wrongly coding some deaths, and not making it clear where patients are receiving palliative care.

“We will be looking very closely at this issue and are continually working to reduce our mortality rates and to ensure that patients are receiving the very best levels of care.

“The report also shows that patients with a fractured neck of femur were waiting too long for an operation and therefore spending longer in hospital.

“In June of last year the Trust recruited two trauma consultants, reducing waiting times and putting them well within national guidelines. We are confident that the provision of trauma care to this valuable group of patients will continue to improve at the Trust.”