An emergency laparotomy is urgent surgery on the abdomen, usually on the bowel, for problems such as a blocked or torn bowel, bleeding or serious infection such as peritonitis. Many patients are older or very unwell, and it is one of the highest-risk operations hospitals carry out.
You do not choose the hospital for emergency surgery. The National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) publishes each hospital's death rate within 30 days, adjusted for how ill patients were, together with the range that would be expected for a hospital of that size (funnel limits).
Hospitals in the East of England
17 hospitals in the East of England with published figures. Sorted by name. This is not a ranking: read how to read this first.
| Hospital | Volume bandEmergency laparotomies, NELA year 11 | Key outcome30-day deaths (risk-adjusted) and NELA funnel limits | Waiting timeWhole trust | Patient experience | CQC rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addenbrooke's and the Rosie HospitalsNHS · Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 150 or more201 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 4.5%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 4.3% to 12.3%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Hospitals) |
| Basildon University HospitalNHS · Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust | 100 to 149109 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 10.95%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.9% to 14.1%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Inadequate (CQC report for Basildon University Hospital) |
| Bedford HospitalNHS · Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOnly 66% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7569 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 13.93%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1.6% to 15.8%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | No Approved Rating (CQC report for Bedford Hospital) |
| Broomfield HospitalNHS · Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustOnly 1% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Not published (small numbers) | Not published (small numbers)More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Broomfield Hospital) |
| Colchester General HospitalNHS · East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust | 100 to 149149 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.47%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 3.6% to 13.1%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Colchester General Hospital) |
| Hinchingbrooke HospitalNHS · North West Anglia NHS Foundation TrustOnly 38% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7533 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 18.4%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: up to 20.3% (no lower limit published)More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Hinchingbrooke Hospital) |
| The Ipswich HospitalNHS · East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation TrustOnly 36% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7551 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 4.67%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 0.4% to 17.4%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for The Ipswich Hospital) |
| James Paget HospitalNHS · James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 150 or more151 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 6.34%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 3.7% to 13.1%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for James Paget Hospital) |
| Lister HospitalNHS · East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust | 100 to 149108 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.42%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.9% to 14.1%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Lister Hospital) |
| Luton and Dunstable HospitalNHS · Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 150 or more165 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 9.47%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 3.9% to 12.8%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Luton and Dunstable Hospital) |
| Norfolk and Norwich University HospitalNHS · Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 150 or more256 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 5.55%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 4.7% to 11.8%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital) |
| Peterborough City HospitalNHS · North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust | 100 to 149126 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 10.25%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 3.3% to 13.6%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Peterborough City Hospital) |
| The Princess Alexandra HospitalNHS · The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS TrustOnly 44% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7554 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.35%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 0.5% to 17%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for The Princess Alexandra Hospital) |
| The Queen Elizabeth HospitalNHS · The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust | 75 to 9981 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 12.34%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2% to 15.2%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for The Queen Elizabeth Hospital) |
| Southend University HospitalNHS · Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustOnly 48% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | 75 to 9983 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 13.43%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.1% to 15.1%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Southend University Hospital) |
| Watford General HospitalNHS · West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | 150 or more180 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 9.14%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 4% to 12.6%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Somewhat worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Watford General Hospital) |
| West Suffolk HospitalNHS · West Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustOnly 68% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | 100 to 149103 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 3.87%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.7% to 14.3%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for West Suffolk Hospital) |
How to read this
- Not a ranking. The table is in alphabetical order. A higher volume does not on its own mean better care, and we do not combine the columns into a score.
- Volume bands. Cut points are the lower quartile, median and upper quartile of all 172 hospitals in the NELA year 11 table in the published table, rounded. So about a quarter of hospitals in the NELA year 11 table fall in each band. The exact number is shown under the band.
- Risk adjustment. Where a figure says “adjusted”, the audit has allowed for differences in the patients each hospital treats, such as age and other illnesses. Hospitals that take on more complex cases can still look different for reasons the adjustment does not capture.
- Bands and limits. We only say a result is higher or lower than expected when the source itself says so (for example NJR outlier status, NELA funnel limits, SSNAP levels, CQC survey bands). Where the source publishes a rate without limits we show the rate and the national figure, and say “No banding published”.
- Small numbers. A small hospital can have 0% or a high percentage by chance. Figures the source suppresses are shown as “Not published (small numbers)”.
- Trust or hospital. Volumes and outcomes here are for each hospital or team, but waiting times and the CQC inpatient survey are for the whole trust.
- Different periods. Each figure has its own period, shown next to it. Audit results describe operations done one to three years ago; waiting times are updated monthly.
- Talk to your GP or consultant about what the figures mean for you. If you are referred for planned care in England, you can usually choose your hospital.
Full definitions: methodology and data dictionary.
Data sources and licences
- National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) Year 11 hospital table and outlier table, NELA (Royal College of Anaesthetists) for HQIP. Source: National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) Year 11 report, RCoA / HQIP, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
- CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025 (trust benchmark results), Care Quality Commission. Source: Care Quality Commission, NHS Patient Survey Programme, Adult Inpatient Survey 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- CQC ratings, Care Quality Commission. CQC ratings: Care Quality Commission. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
- Healthcare-associated infections: annual counts and rates by trust (financial year 2025 to 2026), UK Health Security Agency. Source: UK Health Security Agency, healthcare-associated infection annual data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0
Data last updated 26 October 2026. We do not change the published figures; we only group volumes into bands. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Sources
We checked this guide against these official pages on 26 October 2026.
- NELA: information for patients and the public (National Emergency Laparotomy Audit)
- Peritonitis (NHS website)
- National Emergency Laparotomy Audit: eleventh annual report (NELA)
- Adult inpatient survey (Care Quality Commission)
Spotted something out of date? Tell us.