Trust bottom after 'admin error'

The report assessed 69 trusts

An administrative error led to a mental health service being ranked as the worst in England, a trust has said.

Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust came bottom of the 69 mental health trusts in the Healthcare Commission report which assessed four key areas.

But the trust's chief executive John Crockett said the ranking resulted from the late filing of results and did "not reflect the quality of our services".

Dudley Primary Care Trust was ranked joint top in the watchdog's report.

The commission used performance data and patient and staff surveys to judge the trusts on four criteria - the standard of care, the involvement of patients and carers, safety and the patient journey, which looks at how well patients are moved through the system.

'Missed deadline'

Wolverhampton City PCT was rated "weak" in all four areas.

But Mr Crockett said this resulted from administrative problems.

He said: "Because of the failure - a couple of hours late with the deadline, missing that information deadline, 24 of our responses were automatically scored as 'one'.

"And when you score 'one' that is the lowest possible ranking."

Meanwhile, Dudley PCT was rated "excellent" and ranked top with Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Both trusts were rated "excellent" for safety, involving patients and carers in treatment plans and focusing on the needs of the individual.

They slipped a point and were rated good for providing an effective care pathway for patients.

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust was also among 11 trusts in England ranked "weak."

Also in the commission's review of the sector, eight trusts were rated as excellent, 20 were good and 30 were deemed fair.

Campaigners have called the findings were disturbing, but the government said the problems were already being addressed.