I AM writing in response to a letter published in the Star on February 8.

The Health Authority is aware of the feature in the Sunday Times which does, as your letter suggests, show that St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust (Whiston and St Helens Hospital) has higher than average mortality rates. These figures are published annually in the Government's Performance Indicator Tables and are freely available to the public.

However, there are many factors resulting in the high mortality rate from our local Hospitals Trust. The general state of health of the population is worse than the national average, and this means that more of the people who go into hospital are more seriously ill.

We are working closely with our partners, for example in the Local Authority, to ensure we tackle the high levels of ill health and target the causes, and not just the symptoms, of illness. These causes include housing, unemployment, and lifestyle issues The St Helens Health Plan sets out a programme of action to tackle these issues.

It is right that the information published in the Sunday Times remains in the public domain but it does not need careful analysis. The figures do not make allowances for the high levels of illness and deprivation suffered in the North West compared to other areas of the country.

We believe that our hospitals provide a high-quality service to local residents and, indeed, the announcement of £211 million of investment this week will ensure that they remain at the forefront of modern medicine.

Diana Forrest, Director of Public Health, St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority.