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).
London hospitals
29 London hospitals 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnet General HospitalNHS · Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustOnly 13% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7516 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 15.25%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: up to 27.3% (no lower limit published)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 Barnet General Hospital) |
| Charing Cross HospitalNHS · Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust | 75 to 9997 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 2.24%Below the lower 95% funnel limit95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.5% to 14.4%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Charing Cross Hospital) |
| Chelsea and Westminster HospitalNHS · Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 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) | 5.8%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 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital) |
| Croydon University HospitalNHS · Croydon Health Services NHS Trust | 75 to 9979 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 6.93%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1.9% to 15.2%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Croydon University Hospital) |
| Ealing HospitalNHS · London North West University Healthcare 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 7526 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 10.38%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: up to 22.2% (no lower limit published)More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Ealing Hospital) |
| Hammersmith HospitalsNHS · Imperial College Healthcare NHS TrustOnly 4% 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 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Hammersmith Hospitals) |
| The Hillingdon HospitalNHS · The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 75 to 9977 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 8.4%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1.8% to 15.4%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for The Hillingdon Hospital) |
| Homerton University HospitalNHS · Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | 75 to 9975 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 9.12%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1.7% to 15.5%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) | Outstanding (CQC report for Homerton University Hospital) |
| King George HospitalNHS · Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS TrustOnly 4% 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) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for King George Hospital) |
| King's College HospitalNHS · King's College Hospital NHS Foundation TrustOnly 2% 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 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for King's College Hospital) |
| Kingston HospitalNHS · Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust | 75 to 9986 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 4.69%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.3% to 14.9%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for Kingston Hospital) |
| Newham University HospitalNHS · Barts Health NHS Trust | Fewer than 7561 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 12.65%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1% to 16.3%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 Newham University Hospital) |
| North Middlesex University HospitalNHS · Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust | 75 to 9998 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 10.18%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.6% to 14.4%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 North Middlesex University Hospital) |
| Northwick Park HospitalNHS · London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | 100 to 149108 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 12.44%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.9% to 14.1%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Northwick Park Hospital) |
| Princess Royal University HospitalNHS · King's College Hospital NHS Foundation TrustOnly 37% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7549 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.68%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 0.3% to 17.7%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 Princess Royal University Hospital) |
| Queen Elizabeth HospitalNHS · Lewisham and Greenwich NHS TrustOnly 53% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7561 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 5.33%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1% to 16.3%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) | Good (CQC report for Queen Elizabeth Hospital) |
| Queen's HospitalNHS · Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust | 150 or more253 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 11.05%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 4.7% to 11.8%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Worse than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 7.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Queen's Hospital) |
| The Royal Free HospitalNHS · Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustOnly 62% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | 100 to 149102 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 6.22%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.7% to 14.3%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 Royal Free Hospital) |
| The Royal London HospitalNHS · Barts Health NHS Trust | 75 to 9995 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 12.44%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.5% to 14.5%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 The Royal London Hospital) |
| The Royal Marsden, LondonNHS · The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust | Fewer than 7521 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 0%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: up to 23.7% (no lower limit published)More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Much better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 9.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Outstanding (CQC report for The Royal Marsden, London) |
| St George's Hospital, TootingNHS · St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | 100 to 149108 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 6.43%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 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for St George's Hospital, Tooting) |
| St Helier Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital for ChildrenNHS · Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust | 100 to 149117 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 10.34%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 3% to 13.8%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 St Helier Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children) |
| St Mary's HospitalNHS · Imperial College Healthcare NHS TrustOnly 54% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | Fewer than 7564 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.2%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 1.3% to 16.2%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.4 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for St Mary's Hospital) |
| St Thomas' HospitalNHS · Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust | 100 to 149111 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.07%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.9% to 14%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for St Thomas' Hospital) |
| University College Hospital & Elizabeth Garrett Anderson WingNHS · University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOnly 62% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | 100 to 149104 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 3.73%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.8% to 14.2%More measures
| Not applicable (emergency care) | Better than expectedInpatients rated their overall experience 8.7 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Good (CQC report for University College Hospital & Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing) |
| University Hospital LewishamNHS · Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust | 75 to 9993 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 5.72%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.4% to 14.6%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 University Hospital Lewisham) |
| West Middlesex University HospitalNHS · Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation TrustOnly 70% of the hospital's eligible emergency laparotomies were entered in the audit (case ascertainment), so these figures may not represent all patients. | 75 to 9994 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 4.11%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.4% to 14.6%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) | Good (CQC report for West Middlesex University Hospital) |
| Whipps Cross University HospitalNHS · Barts Health NHS Trust | 100 to 149107 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 7.75%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 8.2 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust) | Requires improvement (CQC report for Whipps Cross University Hospital) |
| The Whittington HospitalNHS · Whittington Health NHS Trust | 75 to 9987 emergency laparotomies in NELA year 11 (December 2023 to November 2024) | 3.41%Within the 95% funnel limits95% limits for a hospital of this size: 2.3% to 14.8%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 The Whittington 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 22 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 22 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.