Commenting on the launch today (09 September) of NHS performance league tables as part of the NHS oversight framework 2025/26, Dr Nick Murch, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “While we welcome transparency in NHS performance, we remain deeply concerned about the publication of league tables which have been released for the first time today.
“There is a lack of consideration for the local demographic and social deprivation factors that can significantly affect hospital performance. Hospitals in more deprived areas already face immense challenges, including higher patient acuity, greater levels of chronic illness and fewer resources to manage demand.
“Moreover, the publication of league tables seems to overlook the pressure placed on urgent and emergency care services. It’s notable that some specialist hospitals, which do not have emergency departments, are apparently performing better.
“However, this does not acknowledge the severe strain that urgent and emergency care services are under, especially in hospitals that must handle both routine care and emergency cases. These services are critical to patient outcomes, yet they are increasingly stretched by rising demand, limited capacity, and staffing shortages.
“Without taking these factors into account, performance league tables could unfairly penalise hospitals already struggling with longstanding issues.
“As we warned in November, the danger is that these league tables will exacerbate existing disparities rather than help address them. Hospitals in more challenging socio-economic areas will be further disadvantaged by a system that fails to account for the real-world pressures they face, from staffing shortages to social care deficits.
“This could lead to an even wider recruitment crisis, with fewer healthcare professionals willing to work in the very hospitals that need them most. Moreover, penalising underperforming trusts without providing meaningful support risks reinforcing a vicious cycle – lower scores leading to less funding and fewer resources, which in turn leads to poorer performance and further deterioration.”