by Jenni Horn

Death rates at Medway Maritime Hospital are among the worst in the country.

Almost 240 more people than expected died in a year at the Gillingham hospital, Department of Health figures reveal.

The new statistics have prompted health secretary Andrew Lansley to warn they should act as a "smoke alarm to prompt further investigation".

However, bosses at Medway Maritime insist they have fully probed the high number of deaths and have not found any shortfalls in care.

Medway was placed sixth on a list of 36 hospitals in England with higher than expected death rates, according to a new measure.

Figures reveal the Towns' main hospital had 1,745 deaths between April 2010 and March 2011 – 238 more than expected.

The data is based on the new Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI), which looks at deaths in hospitals and up to 30 days after a patient is discharged.

It compares the actual number of deaths to the figure normally expected, taking into account factors such as the age and type of illness.

The SHMI replaces the hospital standardised mortality ratio, which only measured deaths in hospital.

Mr Lansley said: "Alongside other data, this will help the NHS in future to spot and act on poor care as soon as possible."

A spokesman for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "There was no evidence of any deficiency in the quality of the medical and nursing care received by patients.

"Since September 2010 rates have remained well within the normal range."

The spokesman added the SHMI does not take into account levels of social deprivation, which can have an impact on mortality rates.