Hospital death rates have dramatically improved in the last two years amid a drive to raise standards in the NHS in Scotland.
Advances in technology and medicine mean survival chances have been steadily rising for years, with mortality figures dropping annually by around 1.4%. But since January 2010 this figure has trebled to 4.2%.
It coincides with the roll-out of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme, which uses check lists to ensure precautions are taken to give groups of patients – such as those having surgery – the best survival chances.
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