THREE Kent hospital trusts have come severe criticism from the Government in its survey of acute hospitals in England.

Medway Maritime Hospital received no stars out of a possible three in an assessment of 21 indicators including waiting lists, cleanliness, and staff. It means Medway NHS Trust is one of just a dozen hospitals in the country that have received the lowest rating. Two other acute trusts in Kent, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, and Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, also received no stars

Medway NHS Trust Chief Executive Jan Filochowski said he was disappointed with the rating but he stressed: "This relates to the year ending last March. Over the past year, we have made tremendous strides towards improved patient care and I am absolutely confident we will improve the situation over the coming year.

"On the basis of the current performance, I am sure we would be assessed as a two- or three-star trust."

The Department of Health found Medway fell down on four criteria. It failed on the number of outpatients seen within 13 weeks of GP referral, and percentage of patients waiting less than six months for an inpatient appointment. It also failed on patients waiting less than two weeks after an urgent family doctor referral to outpatient appointment for suspected breast cancer. The trust also overspent.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn said the Government would intervene in the lowest-ranked hospitals, because the ratings were a benchmark for standards.

Graham Hills, Chief Officer for Medway and Swale Community Health Council, said improvements had to be made, but he was happy with the present hospital management.

Mr Hills said: "We have been among the severest critics of Medway NHS Trust over the years and we have always been campaigning for better services, but over the last year the improvements have really been coming through.

"We have seen over the last year considerable improvement in Medway hospital. Figures for people waiting on trolleys are probably the best in Kent."

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