Conquest branded weak

The Healthcare Commission said the East Sussex Hospitals Trust had failed to manage its finances adequately. However, it achieved a 'fair' rating for quality of services.

Kim Hodgson, Trust chief executive, was quick to denounce the new Annual Health Check system - despite praise from other healthcare professionals.

She said: "These new ratings do not truly reflect the tremendous progress and turnaround we have made in the second half of last year and first half of this.

"Staff have worked hard to achieve reductions in the time patients have to wait, reductions in cancelled operations and speedier cancer care. Our 'weak' score for use of resources is as a result of having a financial deficit carried over from previous years.

"We have now achieved a balance, thanks to a great deal of work to cut down on waste and inefficiencies but still have this historical debt to deal with, like many other NHS organisations."

The Healthcare Commission's Annual Health Check replaces the old star ratings system, which NHS bosses said was unfair and unclear.

When the new system - with grades of good, fair or weak for use of resources and quality of services - was announced, it was applauded for giving a fair overview of performance.

Scores are based on a range of information gathered throughout the year, including an organisation's ability to meet Government targets.

Ms Hodgson said: "We recognise there are areas for improvement and are not complacent. A lot of effort is being made to improve these areas. I am confident patients are seeing and will continue to see further improvement."

Hastings and Rye MP Michael Foster said the Trust's poor financial management rating was disappointing. But he added front-line services in Hastings are probably of a higher quality than the Health Check reflected.

He said: "I don't want to start a turf war with Eastbourne, but the report is an overview of services at the Conquest and DGH.

"In Hastings, patients would almost certainly say services are excellent. Who knows what the result would have been if the inspectors considered only the Conquest?

"Either way, it's vital the hospitals trust fixes its financial management problems to help secure these wonderful services for the future."