Addenbrooke's is in a bid to become a foundation hospital

The Commission for Health Improvement on Tuesday published star ratings of all organisations in the country based on their performance between April 2002 and March 2003.

Results show that all NHS acute trusts have improved or kept their rating from last year and that the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority now has the largest number of three-star acute trusts and primary care trusts in the country.

Nearly 40% of acute trusts in the region now have three stars.

Foundation Hospitals

In Cambridgeshire Addenbrooke's, Papworth and Peterborough Hospitals have all kept their stars from last year, which means that they can press ahead with their applications to become Foundation Hospitals.

The West Suffolk in Bury St Edmunds, previously a one star hospital, now joins them as one of the top performing trusts in the country.

Staff at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire are also celebrating as the trust moves up from zero to two stars.

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), the new organisations created a year ago to co-ordinate local community services, also did well.

More than a third of PCTs are three stars, with most of the others awarded two stars. This is the first time that PCTs have been rated under the star system.

This announcement will be a huge boost to staff and I would like to congratulate them for all their hard work over the last year Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority chairman Stewart Francis

Welcoming the announcement, the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority chairman Stewart Francis said it was tremendous news for people of the region.

"It just goes to show that all the hard work is paying off.

"The NHS has come a long way since April 2002 and it is good to see that achievement recognised by Commission for Health Improvement.

"This announcement will be a huge boost to staff and I would like to congratulate them for all their hard work over the last year.