THE latest death rates at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital are to be published every month to try to restore patients' trust.

The monthly mortality rate figures will be updated every month after a Healthcare Commission investigation found between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected at Stafford Hospital from 2005 to 2008.

Now Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has published its mortality rates from April 1, 2008 to the end of April this year.

A hospital's mortality rate is calculated by dividing the actual number of deaths at the centre by the expected number of deaths, and multiplying this by 100.

The Stafford figures show that the mortality rate was 101.9 in April, 2008, and 104.8 a month later.

But the rate had dropped to 86.7 in June and a 12-month low of 67.2 in September. The last recorded rate was 71.1 in April this year.

Medical director Manjit Obhrai said: "The decision to post the trust's mortality rates on the internet was taken to try to build confidence among our patients and their families.

"The figures show that in September, October, December and April the trust has fallen below the national expected mortality rate, and at no time had higher mortality rates than would have been expected during the past year, which demonstrates the improving quality of care at the trust."