CRAVEN'S cash-strapped health service has been given poor ratings by watchdogs.

The Healthcare Commission has examined the newly-formed North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust, which serves Craven, as part of a country-wide assessment.

It found the PCT gave "fair" quality of service, but was "weak" for its use of resources because of its poor financial position.

The Commission can also give gradings of "excellent" and "good".

The county-wide PCT, which includes the former Craven, Harrogate and Rural District trust, started life in October 2006 with a £45 million debt.

Despite the PCT's less-than-impressive results, it is keen to point out the service developments it has put in place.

These include a £9 million investment in community care services to allow patients to get treatment and rehabilitation at home.

Since its creation, the PCT says it has also established successful new partnerships with GPs and health care professionals, which has allowed it to develop and implement patient-driven service modernisation initiatives.

Chief executive Dr Janet Soo-Chung said: "We are confident that as we enter our second year we will continue to improve our financial position and consequently our use of resources' score, as well as continuing to improve the quality of service we provide.

"As we have demonstrated, we are committed to investing in new ways of working to ensure that patients can receive the highest quality of care within the resources available.

"It's been a challenging 12 months but I believe we are already seeing the positive benefits of our service modernisation work. This is thanks to the continued efforts of our staff and partners in the health and social care community."

But MP David Curry said he had never been in favour of the larger PCT and North Yorkshire and York, which had started out with the biggest financial deficit in the country.

He said he understood the PCT had needed time to bed down and start a recovery plan.

But he said: "Nonetheless, if you gave those marks to a school for Ofsted you would question whether you would want your children to go there. But you can't do that with the PCT - you have no option or choice."

Mr Curry said he would be meeting PCT boss Mrs Soo-Chung next Friday.

He said: "I want to find out why the recovery plan has faltered, what the prospects are for it being brought around and what proposals there are to make sure patient care does not suffer.

"I want to find out if there are more horrors in the pipeline."

The review has also highlighted that Craven's ambulance service is below standard.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service, which was also only formed last year and inherited a deficit, has been deemed "weak" for its use of resources and quality of services.

Acting chief executive Ian Walton said the result was anticipated.

He said: "We knew that resolving these problems was going to be a marathon not a sprint and developed plans which would take many months of hard work to return the trust to financial balance."

But he said improvements had taken place involving activation and response times.

Mr Walton said: "Despite the annual health check score of weak for both key criteria, YAS staff have shown unstinting dedication, professionalism and commitment to delivering a first-class, clinically-focused service to the patients and public of Yorkshire during 2006-07.

"We welcome the findings of the annual health check and are absolutely committed to improving in the areas where we are weak and developing further the areas in which we have shown good practice to be in place."

Airedale NHS Trust, which runs Airedale General Hospital, scored better in the commission, gaining a "fair" rating for quality of services and use of resources.

email: jenny.speak @skipton.newsquest.co.uk l Cancer services switch to Bradford is delayed - Page 6