Investigation into five 'high death rate' hospital trusts Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Whitehall's NHS medical director, was put in charge of the special inquiry, as a damning report on two Stafford hospitals was published. However, these differences were taken into account by NHS officials, who now want to know why the death rates are higher than expected. Professor Sir Bruce Keogh said every effort is being made to get to the bottom of the why the hospitals have become "outliers." "Each of the hospitals we identify today is already under scrutiny by regulators," he said. This clinically-led and practical investigation will allow me to assure myself, Parliament and patients that these hospitals have everything they need to improve.