NHS trusts under fire

Two hospital trusts in the West Midlands were today branded 'weak' for their overall quality of service to patients.

The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall, and Mid Staffordshire NHS FoundationTrust, which runs troubled Stafford Hospital and Cannock Hospital, were told they needed to improve.

They are the only foundation hospital trusts in the region, giving them more financial freedom than other trusts.

But while both were praised for their finances, their care for patients was deemed to be among the worst in the country.

Mid Staffordshire, subject of an inquiry into high death rates at Stafford Hospital, was told it is not meeting some of its core standards such as making sure staff are appropriately recruited, trained and qualified.

Dudley was told it had failed in commitments such as A&E waiting times and underachieved in other areas such as other treatment waiting times.

The Care Quality Commission released today's ratings and Andrea Gordon, regional director, urged Dudley and Mid Staffordshire trusts to "address the shortfall in their performance" or face sanctions.

Paula Clark, chief executive of the Dudley trust said the "weak" rating was not acceptable and the trust has already improved.

She added: "Patient care and safety is always our top priority and we are working to ensure we improve on meeting our targets and on the quality of our information and data to gain a higher rating next year."

Mid Staffordshire chief executive Antony Sumara said: "We know where we are failing and we are taking action to improve the quality of services for our patients."