ANALYSING health statistics is a complex matter, especially when it comes to mortality figures. No matter which way you look at it, however, news that the number of patients dying at two west of Scotland hospitals has triggered concerns for the second time in a year is worrying.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the hospital standards watchdog, is now consulting with senior officials at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over the number of deaths at Vale of Leven hospital in West Dunbartonshire and the Royal Alexandra in Paisley. Earlier this year 388 patients died within 30 days of admission at the hospitals, significantly more than the predicted 345 and 19 per cent above the Scottish average.

As with any system that uses algorithms to calculate predictions, there will always be a margin of error. Also, mortality ratios do not in themselves give real insight into patient care. We must be careful, too, not to create panic in the local communities the hospitals in question serve.

But the fact that this is the second time in just 12 months red flags have been raised means it is surely time for further investigation into the figures to ascertain whether and where action needs to be taken to prevent deaths in future.

After all, we must never forget that behind every death statistic is a patient.