Kingsbridge

The Devon Primary Care Trust (PCT), which runs South Hams Hospital, has performed badly in a survey carried out by the Healthcare Commission.

The report rates both the quality of the trust's services and its financial management systems as "weak".

But Devon PCT chief executive Kevin Snee said its poor performance was down to the reorganisation of primary care services in 2006.

Kevin Snee, Devon PCT: "We are confident that by next March when the Healthcare Commission assesses us again, it will see that these plans have made a real difference to patients in Devon."

He insisted that patient care did not suffer.

"Bringing six PCT organisations together to create one was a huge administrative task and because of this we did not always have the documented evidence to show we were reaching the standards required," Mr Snee said.

"We have already begun to make real improvements in healthcare in Devon and recently announced plans for a new satellite renal unit in Honiton.

"We are also building a new hospital in Newton Abbot and a new integrated health centre in Cullompton.

"In addition, we are carrying out many more operations in our community hospitals and outpatients' clinics are being provided closer to people’s homes.

"We are confident that by next March when the Healthcare Commission assesses us again, it will see that these plans have made a real difference to patients in Devon."

But there was also some good news for the trust.

The Healthcare Commission report places it in the top third of healthcare organisations for meeting new national targets.

These include meeting MRSA, quit smoking, cancer, Accident and Emergency and patient experience targets.

The Healthcare Commission also awarded the trust positive ratings for access to a GP or primary care professional, access to sexual health services and monitoring childhood obesity.