Hitch raised false hopes

Technical hitches meant some trusts were given the wrong rating as results emerged on Monday.

The Healthcare Commission said 'seven or eight' trusts alerted the commission to let them know that their rating appeared to have been altered during the course of the day.

Although the ratings were launched to the public yesterday, chief executives were given a password so they could access their own results on Monday.

Managers at one acute trust said they were delighted to see their zero star-rating rise to one star - and horrified when it dropped back down again.

Healthcare Commission ratings leader Anne MacLaren said the problems had been due to a 'technical hitch'.

All trusts and strategic health authorities were additionally emailed with the correct information on Monday afternoon.

Luton and Dunstable Hospital trust was one trust affected by the glitch. It was originally told it had three stars but later discovered it had achieved just two stars.