Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is zero-rated

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals trust were both zero-rated.

Two primary care trusts - Sussex Downs and Weald and East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey - also had no stars.

But Surrey Ambulance and the Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust both got the maximum three-star rating.

Ashford and St Peter's trust was zero-rated as recently as 2001.

Its three stars were gained on achievements like 99.5% success on emergency admission times and good standards of hospital cleanliness.

Trust chairman Clive Thompson said: "We have made sustained progress towards these well earned three stars and this is a superb achievement."

Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust both maintained their three-star ratings.

The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust is also celebrating after going from zero-rated to having two stars in the space of a year.

'Difficult challenges'

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Crawley and Redhill, was given no stars because of failings in financial management and A&E targets.

Lewes MP Norman Baker criticised the Brighton and Sussex trust

The trust said it was working hard to turn things around with �30m having been invested in patient care and hospital services.

Problems with waiting times, financial management and hospital cleanliness were identified at the zero-rated Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Chief executive Peter Coles said it was "not a surprise" due to "difficult challenges in the last few years".

Lewes MP Norman Baker commented: "Those leading the trust now have to convince the public they have a plan of action to deal with these matters."

Sussex Ambulance service kept its one star, while Sussex and Surrey's six mental health trusts saw two improving, two maintaining their performance and two losing stars.