Hospital treatment in north Kent is among the best in the country according to the latest star ratings but the same cannot necessarily be said for other health services in the area. Chief reporter LUCY BRINICOMBE investigates ...

DARENT Valley Hospital has been awarded top marks with three stars for the second year running.

The acute hospital, which was one of the worst in the country three years ago, was among 74 to receive three stars from NHS watchdog the Healthcare Commission last week.

The awarding of top marks reflects the trust's success in meeting all nine main targets, including accident and emergency waiting times within four hours, hospital cleanliness, cancer and outpatient waiting times and financial management.

It scored highly in 30 other targets amounting to an overall high level in patient care.

Chief executive Sue Jennings said: "This is greatly encouraging for all our staff who have worked tirelessly to make the hospital a place where patients can come, with complete confidence, knowing they will get the very best care possible."

"There's still much to do but the results prove staff can sustain high performance and improve services, placing them among the best in the country."

Darent Valley attributes its success on the momentum last year's success brought to staff, who have brought forward more ideas to improve departments further.

Eleven foundation hospitals which opted to go for foundation status last year with the prerequisite three stars were stripped of a star this time around, including Lewisham Hospital.

Last year Mrs Jennings decided against the trust working to achieve foundation status, which would give the hospital more freedom to manage itself, to consolidate the achievements so far.

But Mrs Jennings says plans to learn from the first set of foundation hospitals and the repeat star-rating success means the board will consider following their lead at the next opportunity in 2006.

The star ratings also accompany other glowing reports, with the European independent Picker report stating patient feedback at Darent Valley is the most improved in the country, and NHS Chief Executive Sir Nigel Crisp congratulating A&E staff over waiting times during a visit earlier this month.

PCT gives a star display

DARTFORD, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust (PCT) gained a star after receiving none last year.

Chief executive Stephanie Stanwick is pleased with the result but lamented not reaching two stars because of not meeting targets in financial management or patient waiting times who were being treated at Medway Hospital. But she says the trust is on course to obtain three stars next year.

Meanwhile, it was disappointment for West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust, which was stripped of one of its two stars this time around.

The trust, which is responsible for mental health care, including Stone Lodge and Littlebrook Hospitals, and was just short of receiving three stars last year, wants an independent review after providing "deficient" information to the Healthcare Commission.

According to chief executive Jon Wilkes failure to integrate separate computer systems meant some data was either incorrect or not passed on.

He says the "strengths of our actual performance have been significant", with the fast-track clinic at Stone Lodge in Cotton Lane, Dartford, which was runner-up in a recent regional final, among the successes.

Kent Ambulance was awarded the same one star as last year, having reached targets in responding to emergency calls within 19 minutes and financial management.

A spokesman says it has continued to improve and it only just fell short in obtaining the other targets in responding to calls within eight minutes and improving working lives.