Mixed results for NHS trusts

National Health Service primary care trusts (PCTs) are performing at their best level for more than three years, but there is still much to do in the fight against superbugs and to improve access to family doctors, according to a Government watchdog report.

The Healthcare Commission has rated as 'excellent' or 'good' 20 per cent more trusts than they did in 2005, when their inspections began. But challanges remain on countering the threat of MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

Six of ten PCTs are failing to meet Government targets on controllng infections, or are behind their target for cutting MRSA rates within three years. Next year more stringent restrictions on superbugs come into effect, and there are worries many trusts will not be able to achieve their targets.

100 trusts were marked as 'excellent', just over a quarter, with a further 139 as 'good'. Just 20 were rated as weak. 42 trusts were marked excellent in terms of quality of service and use of resources, up by 40 from two years ago.