THE trust running the Alexandra Hospital has failed to improve its one-star rating and is still substandard in some key performance areas, a report published today has revealed.

New league tables by the Healthcare Commission show Worcestershire Acute Hospitals, which also runs the Kidderminster and Worcester hospitals, has "cause for concern in particular key targets".

Two years ago the trust gained two stars out of a possible three but in 2003/4 its score dropped to just one star.

Of concern to the commission were A&E waiting times, outpatient waiting times and the number of cancelled operations. The trust's two-week breast cancer referral was another point of failure.

Trust chairman Michael O'Riordan said work was already being done to improve standards but the report had highlighted areas where action needed to be taken quickly.

"No-one should underestimate what we achieved in the delivery of care to our patients but there is no room for complacency and it is clear that in the way we deliver some of our services we are letting our patients, and ourselves, down," he said.

"We have to prove we can deliver a service which makes our hospitals the first choice for people from this county and the surrounding areas.

"We have outstanding staff and excellent facilities - we have to look carefully at how our services are provided to make sure that we deliver safe, affordable care of the highest possible standard."

The report did, however, note the improvement in the trust's financial management.

Since being named as one of the trusts with the biggest deficits in 2003/4, hospital chiefs have said they have seen a massive financial turnaround.

And standards were also met in hospital cleanliness and waiting times for all cancers other than breast cancer.

The league tables also looked at Worcestershire Mental Health Trust, which was awarded the maximum three stars.

Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service were awarded two stars, along with Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust.