2016 the Trust's cardiac surgery service was heavily criticised in a Care Quality Commission report, having been identified as a significant mortality outlier when compared to similar services. In September 2016, the trust was selected by NHS England as one of twelve Global Digital Exemplars. Birmingham was close to target for planned operations and care but missed targets for seeing A&E patients within 4 hours and also missed targets for cancer care which should start within 62 days. In December 2019, as the Trust plummeted to its lowest performance, amongst the worst nationally, in their treatment of A&E patients it encouraged patients to consult Ask A&E for guidance on where to go after providing their symptoms. In July 2021, the General Medical Council issued a warning to the trust's then medical director David Rosser after falsely reporting to the regulator that he was not aware that a doctor he referred in 2017 was a whistleblower. They stated that his action risked "bringing the profession into disrepute ". The GMC took no further action against the doctor reported and they went on to win an employment tribunal for wrongful dismissal. Overseas patients The trust issued invoices to patients thought to be ineligible for NHS treatment totalling £2.3 million in 2018-9, but only collected £0.5 million. See also List of NHS trusts Healthcare in West Midlands References External links University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Website NHS foundation trusts Health in Birmingham, West Midlands Edgbaston Shelford Group