This year will be the last time hospitals get star ratings

Star-ratings are being replaced this year by a new health check, which requires NHS trusts to produce yearly self-assessments.

"Star-ratings have had their day," said Michael Dixon, of NHS Alliance. "This year we will have star ratings without them being taking too seriously."

However the Healthcare Commission said the ratings were still relevant.

The last star-ratings will be published during the summer, but experts have said they will not be taken seriously because of the changes.

Star ratings, only introduced in 2001, have been overhauled after complaints they were too onerous and target-driven.

All 572 trusts faced three-yearly inspections, costing �150,000 a go.

Star-ratings have had their day Michael Dixon, of the NHS Alliance

The health check reduces the red-tape by asking trusts to produce self-evaluations, with comments from patient groups and councils.

Inspections and random spot checks will only be carried out on trusts deemed to have problems.

In the first year, a draft evaluation will be produced in October, before the final version is handed into the watchdog in April.

Trusts, including hospitals, ambulance services and primary care trusts, will evaluate themselves on their performance from April to March, meaning bosses have already started preparing for them.

Mr Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, which represents 298 primary care trusts, said: "This year we will have star ratings without them being taking too seriously.

Threat

"That is not a bad thing, they have achieved a lot. But star-ratings have had their day.

"Trusts quite naturally will start to look towards the next set.

"I don't think we will see chief executives being threatened if they do poorly."

One NHS trust chief executive, who did not wish to be named, added: "We are facing another change, and while it is welcome the consequence is that attention will be diverted away from this year's ratings."

Gary Fereday, policy manager at the NHS Confederation, which represents health service managers, said he could understand the views, but there would still be a focus on the star-ratings.

"I think everyone is still aware the star-ratings is the existing process."

A Healthcare Commission spokesman said: "The star-ratings system is still the system that is relevant."

He also pointed out the health check had been welcomed by almost everyone.

All three main political parties welcomed the changes, when they were announced last month, saying they would benefit the NHS.