THE ambulance service in East Hampshire is one of the worst in the country, according to an independent report released this week.

Hampshire Ambulance Trust has been awarded no stars, the worst possible grading, after it failed to meet all response time targets.

But the good news for patients in Petersfield is the dramatic turnaround by Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, that saw its rating leap from no-stars a year ago to two stars in this yearÕs review.

The report revealed that Hampshire ambulances failed to answer 75 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes, the majority of other urgent ambulance calls within 19 minutes and urgent GP calls within 15 minutes.

The findings were part of the nationwide 2002/3 review carried out by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) Ð the independent regulator of NHS performance.

The service also fell down on staff working conditions, thrombosis care and protecting patients against the risk of clinical negligence.

A statement from Hampshire Ambulance expressed its disappointment at the ratings but said that change was on the horizon Ð especially with new acting chief executive, Claire Severgnini, in the driving seat following the sacking of her predecessor Richard Mawson in May.

It said that the service was Òmaking significant strides towards improving overall quality and performanceÓ.

ÒA new acting chief executive is in place to drive the service forward. This includes strengthening clinical leadership and

management as well as building closer working relationships with local NHS and communities.

ÒAt the start of this year between April and June, the trust has achieved the national standard to respond to 75 per cent of category A, life-threatening, calls within eight minutes, which is excellent news for local people.

ÒRecently, under the guidance of the newly-appointed medical director, protocols have been introduced that allow ambulance crews to provide new treatments to patients at the scene instead and increase their chance of survival.Ó

Ambulance staff are bitterly disappointed at the news and union representatives have said that rural cover is being hit

the most.

Chairman of the Joint Shop Stewards Committee, Jim Barnett, said: ÒThe result is not unexpected but it is nonetheless pretty devastating, especially for those of us working hard out in the field.Ó

But it is a different story for the three hospitals serving the Petersfield area. Queen Alexandra, St MaryÕs and Haslar are celebrating stars for the first time since they were introduced in 2001.

The hospitals form the Portsmouth Hospi-tals Trust that has been awarded two stars, out of a possible three, in the CHI review after it hit all nine key targets in 2003.

This is in stark contrast to 2002 when it was one of four failing trusts nationwide to have its management franchised by the Secretary of State, Alan Milburn.

The trust has cut inpatient maximum waits to 12 months and maximum waits for outpatientsÕ first appointments fell from 26 weeks to 21 weeks.

The trustÕs chief executive, Alan Bedford, said: ÒThis will be a big boost for staff and local people. The staff have worked so hard in challenging circumstances.Ó