HEALTH chiefs in Ellesmere Port are disappointed to have slipped down a rung in a national ratings system.

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are given an annual star rating by the Government to reflect their performance in delivering GP services and clinics.

Ellesmere Port & Neston PCT, which was awarded three out of three in 2002-03, has dropped down to two stars for 2003-04.

Its chairman, Michael Darby, said: 'We're obviously disappointed that we did not achieve a repeat of last year's three-star rating.

'However, our performance is a good one, with us showing real progress since last year.

'The targets set by the Government have been made much tougher but we have a firm foundation on which to build and are determined to continually improve our performance this year.'

PCTs across the UK must achieve nine targets set by the Department of Health to get three stars.

Ellesmere Port & Neston PCT achieved eight of the targets, narrowly missing out on the one relating to getting an appointment with a doctor within 48 hours.

However, since December 2003, it has been meeting this target and bosses are confident of continuing to do so.

Key targets for PCTs include access to a doctor or nurse, drug treatment and waiting times in A&E departments.

Meanwhile, the Countess of Chester kept hold of its three stars for the fourth consecutive year.

Hospital chief executive Peter Herring said: 'This is a tremendous achievement that demonstrates our staff's hard work and dedication towards improving the quality of patient care and services year on year.

'The performance rating system is about continuous improvement and the targets we had to meet were even more challenging, particularly in a year that saw a 6% increase in emergency admissions here and 10% more people attending A&E.'

The regional centre of excellence for cancer, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, has achieved a three star-ranking for the second successive year.