Nine NHS trusts have succeeded in losing their reputation of running the worst hospitals in England.

A total of 12 trusts were given a zero-star rating in Department of Health performance tables published last year.

Three of these trusts - Barnet and Chase Farm, Portsmouth Hospitals and United Bristol Healthcare - have remained at the bottom of the NHS league.

Top movers

Two stars Brighton Healthcare Medway Epsom and St Helier One star Ashford and St Peter's Dartford and Gravesham E&N Hertfordshire Oxford Radcliffe Stoke Mandeville Hospital University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire

However, nine trusts have managed to secure at least one coveted star in this year's performance indicators.

According to those tables, the biggest improvements have been achieved at Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust, Medway NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust. Each received two stars this year.

Progress has also been made at six other trusts, namely Ashford and St Peter's, Dartford and Gravesham, East and North Hertfordshire, Oxford Radcliffe, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire. They each received one star in this year's tables.

Hardworking staff

Trust managers said their progress was down to robust action plans drawn up after last year's poor performance and hardworking staff.

At Epsom and St Helier Trust in Surrey, the new management team brought in to turn services around said more work needed to be done.

John de Braux, who was appointed chief executive by the government last September, said: "We still have a great deal of work to do and we must sustain the improvements so that patients can be confident they are receiving the best possible healthcare."

He added: "We are now focusing on making further progress with the aim of achieving the maximum rating of three stars".

Managers at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust have also pledged to press ahead with efforts to improve services.

Chief executive David Highton said: "There remains much still to achieve to ensure we improve again for next year's ratings."

He added: "With staff's support we have worked hard to address the problems highlighted by last year's performance ratings and have made great strides in many areas.

"I am confident that we can look forward to continued improvements for next year and beyond".

Among the other winners in this year's performance indictors is Birmingham's Good Hope NHS Trust.

Huge commitment

It jumped from just one star in 2001 to three stars this year.

Trust chairman Sir Bernard Zissman said the rating "acknowledges the huge commitment and effort made by every single member of our staff".

Chief executive Jeff Chandra said the trust would now apply to become a foundation trust, which would give it greater freedom to set its own targets and priorities.

"The allocation of three stars means we are now eligible to apply for NHS foundation trust status.

"This will enable the trust to develop and implement new initiatives, with other three star trusts, as trailblazers for the whole NHS."