THE two trusts providing healthcare in Bury have both scored well in the first Annual Health Check.

The health check for 2005/06 is a new performance-rating system by the Healthcare Commission assessing NHS trusts on areas such as financial management and quality of services.

It replaces the former star ratings system and, for the first time, trust boards are being held responsible for hitting targets. Trusts can be rated excellent', good', fair' and weak'.

Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) joined the top eight per cent of PCTs in the country to achieve an overall rating of good' for its use of resources and was also scored fair' for the quality of services.

Stephen Mills, chief executive of Bury PCT, said: "I am pleased that the PCT's effective management of resources has been recognised as good. The rating of fair on the quality of services for Bury PCT shows that we are meeting most targets to a high level, thus providing sound services for the people of Bury.

"We have achieved the same rating as the majority of PCTs in England and have not been rated as weak' in any of the key areas.

"However in Bury we strive for excellence and the overall rating will further stimulate us to deliver by commissioning and providing high quality, responsive services, so that next year we can demonstrate clear improvements."

The Pennine Acute Trust, which runs Fairfield and North Manchester General hospitals, was rated fair' in both categories. Bob Chadwick, acting chief executive for Pennine Acute, said: "The broad picture is of us holding our own in terms of hospitals across the country, but we know that we can improve. The report marks areas where we have done well and also areas where we need to do more work for the future. As with all reports of this nature they are a snapshot in time, and we would be the first to say that there are areas that we can improve on.

"We are seeing more patients more quickly and carrying out more operations and examinations than ever before, despite the pressures we face.

"Our staff receive literally dozens of thank you letters, notes and messages each day, paying tribute to the efforts made by staff. On behalf of those patients, I would like to re-iterate the trust's thanks to staff for their superb efforts."