Last updated 16:11, Wednesday, 01 October 2008

THE quality of urgent and emergency care, across Cumbria, is improving, according to a national watchdog.

The Healthcare Commission carried out a review of services in each primary care trust area countrywide. It found that 60 per cent were performing well.

They were split into four categories – best, better, fair and least well performing. Cumbria PCT, now NHS Cumbria, was ranked in the better performing bracket.

The watchdog commended recent achievements in urgent and emergency care, including huge improvements in waiting times for accident and emergency services and response times for ambulances.

NHS Direct was also praised for providing an increasingly popular and important service across the country, exceeding its call-handling targets.

However, it also criticised some trusts for unnecessary delays and confusion over access to NHS care.

Prof Sir George Alberti, national director for emergency access, said: “Urgent and emergency care offered across most of the NHS, to millions of people each year, is of a high standard and we welcome the results of this review. We are not complacent and we recognise the importance of encouraging continuous improvement in local services to ensure the delivery of timely, high-quality care to patients.”