THE trust which runs the Alexandra Hospital has shown "cause for concern" in some key areas, according to a Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report.

The latest NHS league tables gave Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which also runs Kidderminster and Worcester hospitals, a one star rating out of a possible three. Last year, the trust gained two stars.

Of concern to CHI were A&E admission waiting times, with 10 cases when people had to wait more than 12 hours. Nine cases would have been deemed an acceptable limit.

Another area of underachievement was the trust's two-week cancer referrals - 93 per cent of patients being seen within two weeks of GP referral, two per cent below target, though that has now improved.

Significant underachievement in financial management was also noted. There was an £8.7 million overspend in 2002/2003.

But the trust did achieve the required standard in six other key clinical target areas, including cleanliness, improving working lives and patient time spent in A&E.