Top specialist trusts dominate list
The Government has published official league tables ranking NHS hospitals in England for the first time.
The data places specialist trusts at the top, with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust taking the number one spot. It is followed by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust and Manchester’s The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, renowned for cancer care.
Also in the top five are Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, highlighting the strong performance of specialist centres in comparison to large general hospitals.
West Midlands hospitals in spotlight
Several West Midlands trusts feature prominently, though not always positively. The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham ranks 14th, making it one of the region’s best performers. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust also fares relatively well at 25th.
But others are clustered much lower. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust comes in 33rd, while Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is placed 46th. Further down the table, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust sits at 88th, and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust – one of the largest in the country – lands at 127th, alongside Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is ranked 110th, and The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust follows at 113th.
Government says rankings boost accountability
Health officials argue the new league tables will provide transparency and accountability across NHS services, allowing patients to compare hospital performance more easily. Ministers believe publishing the rankings will drive up standards and highlight best practice across the system.
However, NHS leaders have warned that trusts serving deprived or high-demand areas may be unfairly penalised by league-style comparisons, arguing that complex local challenges cannot always be reflected in national tables.
Mixed reactions expected locally
In the West Midlands, the rankings are likely to spark debate. While some trusts can celebrate strong national recognition, others face scrutiny over their performance. Local campaigners have already suggested that league tables could place extra pressure on overstretched hospitals rather than provide solutions to underlying challenges such as staff shortages and rising demand.
The Government has confirmed the league tables will be updated annually.
