CONTROVERSIAL star ratings for hospitals, primary care services and ambulance trusts are to be axed.
The ratings system, where NHS trusts in England are awarded between zero and three stars based on their performance, have been much criticised for providing too simplistic an assessment of health services. The Healthcare Commission announced that 2005 would be the last year of star ratings, which are published in July. Instead the health service watchdog said it would be introducing a new health check for the NHS.
A three-month consultation will now ask patients, the public and health workers what they feel should be assessed and what information they would like published.
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