STAFF at Basingstoke hospital are celebrating after receiving the highest rating possible from the Healthcare Commission for the third year in a row.

North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Aldermaston Road hospital, has once again been awarded three stars after hitting all eight of its key targets.

The trust also performed better than average in all other areas.

Mary Edwards, the chief executive of the North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This is excellent news for the whole trust and is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of all our staff.

"It confirms that the people of north Hampshire can be assured in the clinical care and services offered by this hospital."

Other trusts providing NHS treatment in the north Hampshire area did not fare so well.

Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust received a zero star rating, the worst possible, for the third year running.

The trust managed to pass just two out of four key targets, failing to respond to 95 per cent of all non-life-threatening calls in 19 minutes and recording a loss of £2.5million where the target was to break even.

But the trust did achieve 13 secondary targets and was even placed in the top band of performance against these.

Claire Severgnini, the trust's chief executive, said: "The trust has been fully aware that, due to the trust's financial performance, a zero star rating was inevitable. However, we know that the service we are providing to members of the public is a good one and is continuously improving."

The North Hampshire Primary Care Trust received one star, down on last year when it picked up two.

Debbie Glenn, joint chief executive of the trust, said: "The ratings show we must continue to improve what we do."

Blackwater Valley and Hart Primary Care Trust, which covers some areas of north Hampshire, dropped from three stars to one.

First published: Thursday, July 28, 2005