QUEEN Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, says its results in this year’s annual “health check” by the Healthcare Commission are a reflection of the hospital’s uncertain future.

The hospital was rated “fair” for the quality of its services for 2007/2008, but was one of 11 London trusts rated “weak” for its use of resources.

A hospital spokesman said: “We have, in fact, made significant improvements in patient services.”

The hospital says it has met all its core targets; hit every waiting time target except for 10 people who waited more than six months for an operation; reduced MRSA by 73 per cent in the last three years and improved on almost all elements of patient care.

It says it is still investing in projects to improve services to patients.

The hospital was automatically awarded a “weak” score for use of resources because of its budget deficit.

The hospital met all the core standards, partly met existing national targets, and scored “good” for new national targets.

Hospital chief executive Kate Grimes said: “This has not been an easy year for patients and staff because of continued uncertainty surrounding the future of the trust.

“Nevertheless, staff have worked incredibly hard to maintain our high standards.”

Bexley Care Trust scored “fair” for both quality of services and use of resources.

It also met all the core standards, almost met existing national targets, and scored “fair” for new national targets.

This was an improvement on last year, when it was rated “weak” for use of resources.

The trust said special initiatives this year succeeded in achieving evening and weekend services at more than 95 per cent of GP surgeries and will mean by December 90 per cent of patients can expect a maximum 18-week wait for a GP referral for treatment.

Trust chief executive Anthony McKeever said: “Now the care trust has its finances in order, we are putting structures in place to make sure our GPs, nurses and consultants can lead the way in developing services.”

Oxleas, the mental health trust for Bexley, was the only local NHS trust to be rated as “excellent”, and which fully met all its targets.

A letter from Health Secretary Alan Johnson and commission chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said: “Your organisation has reached a level of performance all trusts should aspire to.”

It is the fifth year out of six Oxleas has received a top rating.