Healthcare commissions annual performance ratings

HEALTHCARE COMMISSION PUBLISHES NHS RATINGS SHOWING MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE

Published: 16 October 2008

“NHS urged to root out pockets of remaining poor and mediocre performance and get all trusts up to the standards of the best

The Healthcare Commission today (Thursday) publishes the annual NHS performance ratings showing that trusts are improving the quality of services and managing money more effectively.

The independent watchdog has given all 391 NHS trusts in England a rating in its third annual health check, the most comprehensive assessment of the NHS ever undertaken.

The assessment incorporates thousands of items of data related to performance, information from patients and the public, and inspections targeted at one in five trusts.

Trusts must meet a broad range of measures in areas that matter to patients including safety, waiting times, infection control and health outcomes.

The Commission rates each trust – as “excellent”, “good”, “fair” or “weak” – on both its quality of services and use of resources.

For quality of services, 100 trusts (26%) were “excellent”, 139 (36%) were “good”, 132 (34%) were “fair” and 20 (5%) were “weak”. Two years ago, only 41% were excellent or good, while 59% were fair or weak.

For use of resources, 94 trusts (24%) were “excellent”, 145 (37%) were “good”, 132 (34%) were “fair” and 20 (5%) were “weak”. Two years ago, just 16% were excellent or good, while 84% were fair or weak. “