A TRUST providing services for the mentally ill in Bromley is pleased with its ‘excellent’ rating by the Healthcare Commission.

Mental health and substance misuse services provided by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) got the highest grade by the Healthcare Commission in its annual health check ratings for 2007/08.

Out of the four categories, weak, fair, good and excellent, SLaM was given excellent for both the quality of its services and its financial management.

The trust is one of only 42 trusts out of 391 in the UK to be given an 'excellent' rating for both categories, and one of just twelve mental health trusts to achieve this nationally.

Trust chief executive Stuart Bell said: “We welcome this independent rating of the quality of care we are providing.

“It also demonstrates that we are making the best possible use of public money.”