Bowel cancer surgery in the West Midlands: hospitals compared

Surgery is one of the main treatments for bowel cancer. The surgeon removes the cancer and part or all of the bowel around it. Some people need a colostomy or ileostomy, which may be temporary or permanent. You may also be offered chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted medicines, before or after surgery.

The National Bowel Cancer Audit publishes results for every NHS trust in England and Wales, adjusted for differences between patients. Cancer surgery is often concentrated in specialist centres, so the trust that diagnoses you may refer you to another trust for your operation.

Hospitals in the West Midlands

13 trusts in the West Midlands with published figures. Sorted by name. This is not a ranking: read how to read this first.

Bowel cancer surgery: trusts in the West Midlands, Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA)
TrustVolume bandMajor bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA)Key outcomeDeaths within 90 days (adjusted)Waiting timeWhole trustPatient experienceCQC rating
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Russells Hall Hospital150 to 199176 major bowel cancer operations in 20243.9%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 74.6%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 12.5%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 54%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.01 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 34 cases, 14.6 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
60.4%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional1.4% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)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 Russells Hall Hospital)
George Eliot Hospital NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: George Eliot NHS HospitalFewer than 10077 major bowel cancer operations in 20243.4%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 90%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 11.9%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 63%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.10 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 15 cases, 10.1 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
62.8%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional44.4% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.6 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for George Eliot NHS Hospital)
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: New Cross Hospital150 to 199196 major bowel cancer operations in 20241.5%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 81.1%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 12.8%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 56%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.93 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 57 cases, 19.4 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 6 cases FY2025-26
69%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional15.7% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)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 New Cross Hospital)
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: City Health Campus, Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, Sandwell Health Campus100 to 149133 major bowel cancer operations in 20243.5%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 89.3%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 9.4%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 48%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.11 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 25 cases, 12.4 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
64%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional46.7% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)City Health Campus: Requires improvement (CQC report for City Health Campus)
Midland Metropolitan University Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Midland Metropolitan University Hospital)
Sandwell Health Campus: Requires improvement (CQC report for Sandwell Health Campus)
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, The Princess Royal Hospital150 to 199189 major bowel cancer operations in 20242.5%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 85.2%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 13%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 48%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.95 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 74 cases, 26.7 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 4 cases FY2025-26
64.9%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional17% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Royal Shrewsbury Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital)
The Princess Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for The Princess Royal Hospital)
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Warwick Hospital100 to 149146 major bowel cancer operations in 20241.1%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 88.5%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 10.7%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 39%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.00 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 23 cases, 14.5 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 0 cases FY2025-26
67%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional1.2% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.5 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Good (CQC report for Warwick Hospital)
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Solihull Hospital200 or more423 major bowel cancer operations in 20243.6%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 84.3%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 10.6%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 67%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.92 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 291 cases, 28.6 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 7 cases FY2025-26
74.7%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional55.9% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 7.9 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Birmingham Heartlands Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Birmingham Heartlands Hospital)
Good Hope Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Good Hope Hospital)
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham: Requires improvement (CQC report for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham)
Solihull Hospital: No Approved Rating (CQC report for Solihull Hospital)
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: University Hospital100 to 149142 major bowel cancer operations in 20242.8%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 83.1%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 10.3%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 55%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.17 (Higher than expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 48 cases, 12.1 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 4 cases FY2025-26
85.1%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional2.3% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)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 University Hospital)
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Queens Hospital200 or more295 major bowel cancer operations in 20240.7%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 87.1%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 18.8%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 58%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.95 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 144 cases, 27.9 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 4 cases FY2025-26
63.1%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional43.8% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)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 Queens Hospital)
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: County Hospital, Royal Stoke University Hospital200 or more349 major bowel cancer operations in 20244.8%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 86.5%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 20.1%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 39%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.14 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 109 cases, 23.4 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 8 cases FY2025-26
52.7%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional49.2% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.3 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)County Hospital: Good (CQC report for County Hospital)
Royal Stoke University Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Royal Stoke University Hospital)
Walsall Healthcare NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Manor Hospital, Moat Road100 to 149104 major bowel cancer operations in 20244.8%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 79%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 10.7%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 47%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 0.95 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 40 cases, 23.9 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
67.2%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional10.3% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)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 Manor Hospital, Moat Road)
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: Alexandra Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre, Worcestershire Royal Hospital200 or more263 major bowel cancer operations in 20241.2%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 87.3%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 8.6%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 60%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.09 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 75 cases, 24.0 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 4 cases FY2025-26
59.3%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional10.2% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)About the same as other trustsInpatients rated their overall experience 8.1 out of 10 (CQC Adult Inpatient Survey 2025, whole trust)Alexandra Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Alexandra Hospital)
Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre: Good (CQC report for Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre)
Worcestershire Royal Hospital: Requires improvement (CQC report for Worcestershire Royal Hospital)
Wye Valley NHS TrustWhole trust. Hospitals: The County Hospital100 to 149105 major bowel cancer operations in 20244%National: 2.6%No banding published
More measures
  • Alive 2 years after surgery (adjusted): 78.9%National: 85.3%
  • Unplanned readmission within 30 days (adjusted): 11.1%National: 11.3%
  • Hospital stay longer than 5 days (adjusted): 58%National: 59%
  • Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), whole trust: 1.11 (As expected) 2025-06 to 2026-05
  • C. difficile infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 26 cases, 23.9 per 100,000 bed-days FY2025-26
  • MRSA bloodstream infections that started in hospital (whole trust, not adjusted for case mix): 1 case FY2025-26
81%started cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral or screening (standard 85%; England 61.2%), June to August 2026, provisional39.1% of people waiting for a colonoscopy had waited 6 weeks or more (England 30.9%, August 2026)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 The County 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 130 NHS trusts and health boards in the NBOCA data tables in the published table, rounded. So about a quarter of NHS trusts and health boards in the NBOCA data tables 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. This audit publishes figures for each NHS trust, which may run several hospitals. The operation may only be done at one of them.
  • 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.
  • National figures. National figures are the 'Overall' (England and Wales) row of the NBOCA data tables.
  • 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

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.

Spotted something out of date? Tell us.