Hospitals get third 'weak' rating

The report says the RCH Trust has improved its financial management

Services at Cornwall's acute hospitals have been rated "weak" for the third year running.

However, the score for financial management has gone up and is now rated as "fair".

The assessment comes in the Healthcare Commission's annual performance ratings for NHS trusts.

Last year the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' NHS Trust (RCHT) was rated the worst in England but it now meets 31 of 44 government standard targets.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals' Trust chief executive, John Watkinson, remains on suspension while an inquiry into financial management at the trust is carried out.

More than 200 senior doctors at the RCHT have issued a statement condemning Mr Watkinson's suspension.

Elsewhere, services at the Cornwall Primary Care Trust and the trust providing mental health care are assessed as "good".