A new set of government league tables has painted a concerning picture for one of the region’s largest hospital trusts. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) has been ranked 132nd out of 134 acute NHS trusts in England, positioning it as the third worst-performing trust in the country.
This assessment, published by NHS England, marks the first time such national rankings have been made public. The league tables rate the performance of NHS trusts across seven key areas, including:
• Waiting times
• Emergency care performance
• Cancer treatment access
• Ambulance response times
• Surgical backlog management
• Financial sustainability
• Patient flow and access to services
These figures allow members of the public to compare the performance of local hospitals — but they also raise serious questions about patient care standards, especially where delays or inadequate treatment may have had a serious impact on health outcomes.
UHCW, which oversees both University Hospital Coventry and Hospital of St Cross in Rugby, found itself only narrowly ahead of Countess of Chester Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, which ranked 133rd and 134th respectively.
In response to the results, UHCW’s Chief Executive Professor Andy Hardy expressed disappointment but reaffirmed the trust’s commitment to improvement.
“We are disappointed by our position in the national oversight table and we are looking at all the metrics to see where we can use our improvement methodology to make positive changes for our patients,”
The local picture isn’t entirely bleak. Nearby South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Warwick Hospital, was ranked 25th out of 134.
Meanwhile, George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton came in at 121st place.
In the mental health sector, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, responsible for community and mental health services, was placed 51st among non-acute NHS trusts.
Ambulance trust league tables have also identified that West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust ranked 6th out of the 10 trusts.
The Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended the release of these performance tables, describing them as a tool to increase transparency and accountability across the NHS and enabling patient choice.
However, some trusts have voiced concerns about whether the chosen metrics truly reflect the complexity of modern healthcare delivery, especially in underfunded or overburdened areas.
At our firm, we regularly hear from individuals and families who have been affected by medical delays, surgical errors, or mismanaged care — often in the hospitals flagged in these national performance tables.
Whilst we recognise the challenging conditions faced by NHS staff, persistent underperformance can lead to avoidable harm, including:
Contact us today if you have concerns about treatment you or a loved one received at University Hospital Coventry, Hospital of St Cross or any other Trust identified in the league tables. Our specialist team are true specialist Medical Negligence Lawyers, dedicated to helping people in situations like yours.
Article written by Medical Negligence Solicitor Elizabeth Bellamy
