The body representing HR professionals in the NHS has def-ended the
star-rating scheme for grading hospital performances.
This year, more acute hospitals received the highest three-star rating – 53
out of 176, compared with 45 in 2002. However, more acute trusts received zero
stars – 14 compared with 10 last year.
The British Medical Association claims the ratings "measure little more
than hospitals’ ability to meet political targets".
Unison’s head of health Karen Jennings warned that the way ratings are
assessed is too crude.
But Peter King, executive officer of the Association of Healthcare Human
Resource Manage- ment, said: "It can be dispiriting to be in an
organisation with no stars, but there is some evidence this can help to focus a
team… to improve matters."
