DORSET County Hospital is one of the lowest risk hospitals in the country according to the latest review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

It is the first time such comprehensive data has been pulled together and has highlighted that a total of 44 of the 161 trusts in the UK fell into the highest risk categories.

The exercise has been carried out as part of the regulator’s new hospital inspection regime, which will see inspectors go into every trust by 2015.

The new indicators relate to five key questions that the regulator monitors – are they safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

With information from partners and the public, intelligent monitoring helps the regulator to decide when, where and what to inspect.

Responding to the report Jean O’Callaghan, chief executive of Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very pleased to see that when we are analysed against these many indicators we are shown to be a safe, low risk hospital.”

However, as part of the assessment 83 indicators showed that the hospital has no reason for concern but three indicators were flagged up as a risk.

These areas were whistleblowing and in-hospital mortality for endocrinological conditions.

Mrs O’Callaghan added: “We have asked for more information about the alert that was highlighted.”

This comes after the CQC issued the hospital with a warning notice on October 1 requiring it to take action because it is not meeting six national standards.

Following the notice the hospital fixed the faults.

CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: “As a doctor, I liken intelligent monitoring to a screening test. Our inspection combined with intelligent monitoring provides the diagnosis, following which we make a judgement, which leads to action.”