Worcestershire | Archive | 2001 | September | 25
From the archive, first published Tuesday 25th Sep 2001.
WORCESTERSHIRE hospitals have been awarded two stars out of three in a new rating system announced by the Government today.
Hospitals nationwide have been ranked on everything from waiting times and staff vacancy rates, to patient satisfaction and ward cleanliness.
"In line with 90 per cent of the acute trusts in the West Midlands, we've been afforded two-star status for 2001/02," said Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman Janet-Marie Clark.
"We're naturally very pleased with our rating, which will give us a little more independence in the way certain resources are spent once they're allocated by the Department of Health.
"The Trust has worked hard to achieve a two-star status and we'll now aim towards a three-star rating."
Three stars would have landed Worcestershire greater freedom and a share of a £155m national fund which managers can spend on whatever they like.
As a two-star trust it will still get money from the fund to improve services - but will have to account for every penny to managers at the NHS Modernisation Agency.
Health Secretary Alan Milburn said patients had a right to know how their local hospital was performing.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008