THE new NHS star ratings have triggered a row about the value of the controversial rating system.

Following the news that three of the county's health trusts received just one star from the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI), both politicians and health bodies attacked the system.

Conservative Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said he was shocked by the ratings and said staff at the trusts should not be demoralised.

"I'm suspicious of a system that rates health trusts with a cruder star rating than we use for hotels," said Mr Luff.

James Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, said nobody should judge a hospital by its star ratings.

"They measure little more than hospitals' ability to meet political targets, and take inadequate account of quality of clinical care, or factors such as social deprivation," he said.

But Worcester Labour MP Mike Foster said the independent ratings system was the right way to determine how well health services were performing.

"The findings should be taken seriously by both the management of the trust and by the users of the services," he said.

Mr Foster said staff morale should not be affected by the ratings.

"I think morale is affected by people making irresponsible claims," he said. "With the CHI report, there's no grudge and no axe to grind, and staff will accept that they are being challenged to perform."

Independent Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor has called for an urgent meeting between the county's MPs and the trust's new chief executive, John Rostill, to discuss the trust's problems following the new rating.

"There are many current problems of concern to our constituents, and I am sure MPs would like to know the way the future is going to develop for hospital services in the county," said Dr Taylor in a letter to trust chairman Michael O'Riordan.

He said it was reassuring that the problems that existed had been recognised.

"This is the first step to addressing them," he said. "I have every hope that the process started by the acting chief executive will be continued by the new chief."

West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer, a Conservative, described the ratings as "very disappointing".

"The star ratings provide a guide, and they can't be totally dismissed," he said. "The problems found seem to correspond to what the public feels."