An investigation into GPs with high patient mortality rates: a retrospective study.

Background: As part of the work of the Shipman Inquiry, five general practitioners (GPs) in West Sussex were identified as having excessively high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to identify reasons for the higher-than-expected mortality rates of these five GPs.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of routine mortality and patient registration data from primary-care practices in West Sussex, and the case notes of deceased patients were reviewed.