Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust achieved zero stars

Only one of the hospital trusts in the county has improved according to the results which have been compiled by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI).

One trust, for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, did not manage to score anything despite getting two stars last year.

It did not score because it narrowly missed the target for offering outpatients appointments within 21 weeks.

But Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust came out on top and was awarded three stars after being given only one in 2002.

Trust ratings 2003 - 2002 Dartford & Gravesham 3 - 1 East Kent Hospitals 1 - 1 Medway 1 - 2 Maidstone & Tun Wells 0 - 2

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust medical director Charles Unter said: "It does not mean poor care.

"The actual care when people come into our hospitals is excellent.

"It is very good in all areas and that's been acknowledged by the Commission for Health Improvement themselves when they reported on us late last year."

It is the first time the figures have been compiled for the Commission for Health Improvement.

Each acute or specialist trust is given a star rating from three to zero.

The targets include A&E waits, financial management, cleanliness and the numbers of patients waiting longer than standard times for inpatient and outpatient procedures.

Ambulance trusts are also graded with the star system.

Kent Ambulance Trust was only given one star this year compared to three last year.

It failed a standard of dealing with 75% of 999 calls in life threatening cases within eight minutes by only hitting 74%.

Chief executive of the trust, Hadyn Newton, said better training, new IT and fast response cars are in the pipeline to improve the service.