Basildon Hospital death rate under scrutiny

An inspection has started at Basildon University Hospital in Essex to discover why it has one of the highest death rates in the country.

Basildon is the first of 14 NHS trusts being urgently inspected by the Keogh Review.

The review, which is being conducted by NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, was unveiled in February and follows the inquiry into hundreds of deaths at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust has been accused of covering up its rates, which it denies.