HOSPITAL chiefs were today celebrating five-star success after hitting the heights in the NHS Performance League Tables.

Both hospital trusts in Blackburn and Burnley, which includes Pendle and Rossendale, recorded much-improved performances on last year as medics set new standards of efficiency.

And for the second year running ambulancemen and women proved they were among the UK's best 999 performers.

The Burnley NHS Trust produced 38 five-star results out of a possible 57. They included no patient having to wait more than year for an operation or over 26 weeks for an outpatient appointment.

One significant improvement at Burnley was the increase in day surgery cataract operations.

Hospital bosses at Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust were pleased with 34 five-star ratings from a possible 53. Among its achievements were 97 per cent of patients being assessed within 5 minutes of attending Blackburn Infirmary's casualty unit.

The trust also improved its outpatient waiting times on the previous year.

Chief executive John Thomas said: "The high star rating, which is an improvement across all the categories over the previous year, reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff who continually strive to provide a quality service.

"The league tables are only one indicator of the quality of service and should not be read in isolation from the many other quality standards and initiatives set by the trust."

Ambulances in the county attended 98.1 per cent of all emergencies within the Patient's Charter standard of 19 minutes - the fourth best rural service in the UK.

Chief executive David Hill said despite an increase in demand for services, the trust had managed to improve the speed of response to 999 calls. He paid tribute to the mercy crews and control room staff for their efforts.

Other statistics in the annual figures included 87 per cent of women across East Lancashire receiving a cervical smear test, 2 per cent above the national standard.

But the number of GP practices in the district with their own practice charter was only 71 per cent - 5 per cent below the standard.

The CommuniCare NHS Trust, which provides community health services across Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, also achieved five-star status for patients being seen within 30 minutes of their appointment time.

Trust chief executive Ken Johnson said it was an excellent result in the light of a difficult year.

Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell said today it was a major achievement that no patient in the North West waited more than year to be admitted for hospital treatment.

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