New plans to reduce the number of ‘avoidable deaths’ in English hospitals have been unveiled by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Mr Hunt said an annual review of 2,000 cases of patients who later died would allow hospitals to be ranked according to avoidable mortality rates. Mr Hunt said there were about 1,000 avoidable deaths in the NHS per month. These statistics would be used to establish a national rate of avoidable deaths. As part of the drive, hospital chairmen will have to update the Health Secretary every year with their plans to eradicate avoidable deaths. Mr Hunt also promised additional training for new clinical staff.  Hospital mortality rates expert Professor Nick Black said: ‘A national annual review would place England as the first country in the world to monitor the extent of avoidable deaths, and provide a basis for stimulating quality improvement in each individual hospital.’