SOME of the best ambulance, hospital and primary care trusts in the country are based in the region, following awards for the way they operate.

Ratings ranging from zero to three stars have been given by the Healthcare Commission for the way in which they have met targets set by the Government.

North-East Ambulance Service received the top three stars for performance and clinical care for the third year in a row.

It met life-threatening response targets of eight minutes; response time targets of 19 minutes; financial management and Improving Working Lives targets.

It was particularly commended for the number of front-line ambulances with ECG equipment to monitor heart attack victims, the outcome of a patient survey on access and waiting times, and the quality of ambulance despatch data.

Simon Featherstone chief executive said: "The award reflects the high level of service we provide to the public of the North- East and the consistent dedication of the staff."

Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Trust headed in the right direction by gaining one star, being zero-rated last year.

"This is most heartening, and something upon which to build. It clearly indicates we are now very much on the right track and it is what we had hoped for," said chief executive Jayne Barnes.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust received three stars for the fourth year running, based on its targets for waiting times, hospital cleanliness and improving staff's working lives.

It was deemed to be performing extremely well in cancer treatment, outpatient waiting times and stroke care and has an excellent referral system which has improved waiting times for cancer patients who are seen within two weeks.

It received top marks for treatment of suspected heart attack patients with patients consistently given clot busting drugs within the 30 minute door to needle time target.

In County Durham and Darlington the hospitals trust retained its three-star rating

Sandy Taylor, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington Priority Services mental health trust, which kept its two stars, said: "We will continue to build on this as we modernise mental health services for the people of County Durham and Darlington."

South Tees Hospitals Trust dropped from two stars to one star after underachieving on outpatient waiting times, financial management and waiting lists for planned admissions.

Chief executive Simon Pleydell said: "The loss of a star is obviously a disappointment to us. However, given the problems we had with waiting times early in the year it is a fair reflection of our performance against these standards."

The trust moved on to the James Cook site, last year, and achieved all its waiting time targets from November to May.

Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust retained its three star status, with the mental health service it runs in Harrogate and the rural district achieving only two, a drop since last year.

Darlington, Durham Dales, Sedgefield, Middlesbrough, and Langbaurgh PCTs all received a two-star rating. Sedgefield moving up from one star last year.

Health officials in Darlington said there had been a marked improvement within seven out of nine key targets. Breaches in two waiting list targets had already been addressed.

Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT received two sets of ratings - three stars as one of the top performing healthcare trusts in the country, with praise for cervical screenings, flu vaccinations and six month patient waits.

But it was given only one star for its mental health services, mainly owing to outdated computer systems.