Nineteen UK hospitals have alarmingly high death rates; hundreds of people are dying unneccesarely because of substandard care in the NHS.

The Dr Foster hospital guide, published today, states that tens of thousands of patients were harmed in hospital last year when they developed avoidable blood clots, suffered from obstetric tears, had objects left inside them after operations, or were not given immediate treatment after a stroke.

 An estimated 30,500 patients developed a blood clot.

In key areas, such as with strokes, there's evidence that optimum care is still not being delivered.

Gloucestershire:

There are a few wards that are among the national top 10% most deprived areas, and these are mainly in Gloucester.

Glos. has an estimated 56,000 carers (one in eight of county's population). Nearly 10,000 of these provide care for over 50 hours a week. This includes carers who are themselves getting older, and a number of children and young people who care for their relatives.