HEALTH officials have outlined the actions they will be taking to improve Sedgefield Primary Care Trust's (PCT) national rating next year.

The trust was given only a one star rating by the Commission for Health Improvement this year.

Allan Gray, chairman of the trust, expressed his disappointment at the rating, but said the trust was confident it would improve.

He said: "The PCT has come a long way since it got off the ground in April 2002, but as a young organisation we are still learning how to improve performance to achieve the star ratings targets.

"We are also still in the process of recruiting staff and, as in other areas of the country, we have had some difficulties in recruiting GPs to the area to fill a number of vacancies.

"However, our front line doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and others have worked really hard during the past year to improve services, and I feel they should be really pleased with their achievements."

Mr Gray said the trust had been working with general practitioner practices, health care providers and partners and listening to the views of local people to help improve services and pointed to successes.

Practices in the Sedgefield borough are improving access, so that in future patients will have access to a general practitioner within 48 hours and with a primary care professional within 24 hours.

Five out of the 11 family doctor practices have achieved the Quality Practice Award, the new Sedgefield Community Hospital was highly commended in a recent inspection and patients expressed high levels of satisfaction in a public survey.

Mr Gray said: "We accept that the PCT must do better and have already put action plans in place to improve performance next year and in the future."

The primary care trust plans to hold a number of listening events to continue to respond to what borough residents feel is important.