ORGANISERS of South Worcestershire's health services have been given only one star for performance.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust says it is "disappointed" with the rating, which was announced on Wednesday.

The Commission for Health Improvement, the health service regulator, has graded all primary care and NHS trusts. Four stars is the highest accolade, zero the lowest.

The PCT failed to meet three of its nine targets for performance. It says the main area for improvement is speeding up access to GPs.

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which operates the main hospital in Worcester, was also given a one star rating.

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust was awarded a three star rating for its performance as a PCT and two stars for its mental health services.

As a PCT it passed all nine of its targets, putting it among the top 50 nationally.

"We will continue to improve areas that are weak," said chief executive Paul Bates, "Having set ourselves such a high standard, the challenge will be to maintain it in future years."

There was a disappointed reaction from Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service, which was also given a one star rating, missing three of its 13 targets.

However the service was able to announce a £90,000 grant from the National Lottery to increase the number of ECG machines in ambulances. The machines help in the treatment of heart attack victims and the move will directly benefit the Malvern Hills and east Herefordshire areas.