HEALTH services in west Wiltshire are among the bottom nine per cent in the country, according to figures released yesterday.

The Annual Health Check results released by the Healthcare Commission also rated West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) weak' in terms of use of resources, putting it in the bottom 37 per cent for financial management.

Health campaigners across the district have said they are not surprised at the news and called for urgent action to improve the situation.

Jeff Osborn, chairman of the Trowbridge Hospital League of Friends said: "It is regrettable but almost inevitable. It confirms what local people feel.

"One hopes that the PCT will now confer clear management on the whole exercise and learn they cannot solve the problems by simply shutting everything down."

Erica Watson, vice-president of the Westbury Hospital League of Friends, said: "I am not surprised, the organisation has been in turmoil and my feeling and that of the campaign group and the League of Friends is that they aren't aware of the resources they have, so of course they won't be able to make the best use of them."

West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison said: "I am hugely disappointed that our PCTs have done so very badly, however I am not at all surprised in the light of the difficulties we have had in recent months.

"I am very pleased that the West Wiltshire PCT has been abolished and hope very much that the new Wiltshire-wide PCT will serve my constituents better."

The weak' rating given in both categories assessed, covering quality of service and use of resources, means the review identified broad areas of concern in the way the trust delivers services to the public.

The beleaguered PCT has been desperately trying to slash a multi-million pound debt through radical changes to the healthcare services on offer.

The fate of community hospitals across the area still hangs in the balance after a decision on their future was deferred by the trust, which ceased to exist a week ago when it merged with the North Wiltshire & Kennet and South Wiltshire PCTs to form the Wiltshire Primary Care Trust. A decision is due to be made within six months.

The new Wiltshire Primary Care Trust takes on a combined debt of £34m. Both Kennet & North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire PCTs were fined in the region of £1m by the Department of Health for not balancing their budgets.

Rhona MacDonald, interim chief executive of the Wiltshire PCT, said: "We are, and have already, addressed areas for improvement that are highlighted in the annual health check.

"We want to reassure patients that our staff provide good standards of care.

"This is a new performance system and the PCT now collects the appropriate data or has plans to improve in order to demonstrate this.

"Our staff are our most valuable asset. They are dedicated, highly skilled and professional.

"The challenge before us now, as a new organisation, is to work in new ways that maximise those strengths and develop an organisation which supports and enhances their contribution."

She added that enormous progress' had already been made in tackling the debt, with savings of £24m already identified.

The Kennet & North Wiltshire PCT did not fare any better under the review, also getting weak' ratings in both categories.

The Wiltshire Ambulance Service and The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership were both rated as fair' for quality of service but weak' for use of resources.