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Epsom and St Helier Star Ratings Improvement
July 21, 2004 12:00 AM
Paul Burstow MP for Sutton and Cheam has welcomed news that Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust increased its star rating from one to two out of a possible three in the Government's performance ratings published today, 21st July 2004. But the local MP has warned against putting too much faith in the Government's flawed hospital ratings system.
Mr Burstow expressed concern that Epsom and St Helier received a low rating in the way the trust relates to patients. He will be holding talks with Trust officials in the near future to discuss why the rating was poor and to consider plans to quickly improve patient focus.
Local MP Paul Burstow said:
"The news that Epsom and St Helier has been awarded two stars will be a welcome boost to staff morale. However the Government's star-rating system should be treated with some caution as it places NHS staff in a straight jacket of Government targets and tick boxes which place a premium on delivering national 'must-dos' at the expense of delivering on local needs."
"Hospitals have to jump through political hoops to meet the targets to get an extra star, but for patients stuck on hidden waiting lists or for those who get infected by superbugs the reality is very different. This unreliable rating system must be scrapped. The NHS must have more freedom to meet local shortcomings and set local targets and be locally accountable to people who use the services."
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