Mortality rates are higher at Medway Hospital, a report says

The figures are based on data compiled by the Dr Foster Unit at Imperial College, London, an independent organisation which researches health services.

The chances of dying at the Medway Maritime Hospital are much higher than expected, the study has found.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust also fared badly, being rated ninth worst in the country on waiting times.

The guide, which looked at hospitals across England, studied death rates as an indicator of the quality of their clinical care.

Waiting times

The Medway Maritime was ranked in the bottom four in the country, with the worst named as the Walsall Hospitals and the best Barts and the London.

The assessment took into account factors beyond the hospitals' control, such as the age and sex of patients, the diagnosis and whether an admission was planned or an emergency.

The survey of waiting times looked at how long a person waited to see a consultant.

At the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, only 66% of inpatients had had their hospital appointment within six months of the decision to admit them.

The survey also showed only 71% of outpatients were seen within 13 weeks.

The best performer was West Dorset General Hospitals, where every inpatient had their hospital appointment within six months and 85% of outpatients were seen within 13 weeks.

The guide named St Mary's, in Paddington, west London, as the top NHS trust overall in England.