DEATH rates within York Health Services NHS Trust are the highest in the North and staffing levels are among the lowest in England, according to a Sunday Times Good Hospital Guide.

According to the guide, published yesterday, the trust, which serves York, Selby and Easingwold, has just 22 doctors and 99 nurses per 100 beds.

The report figures say only one other trust employs fewer doctors per 100 beds and only six trusts employ fewer nurses.

The trust's mortality index in the guide was 108 - trusts rating below 100 are doing well - indicating it is not doing as well as expected, considering its patient mix.

However York Hospital, which is run by the trust, was awarded six quality awards by the guide, for services including its emergency care and its treatment of hip fractures, of which 95 per cent are operated on within 24 hours - putting the hospital in the top 15 in England.

Its breast, lung, stomach and bowel cancer services also received a quality award.

The hospital also rates among the top 40 for treating 95 per cent of patients within four hours of arrival in accident and emergency.

The trust's waiting time performance was also analysed, showing that 72 per cent of people have an inpatient appointment within six months, below the England average of 79 per cent, but outpatient waiting times were above the average of 76 per cent at 77 per cent.

All patients with suspected breast, lung, stomach, bowel and urology cancers were seen by a specialist within the two-week target.

The guide, which was compiled by the independent Dr Foster organisation, described Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust as having one of the poorest track records for admitting inpatients within the target time of six months, with one third waiting longer.

However, it said that performance was balanced by good progress in meeting the target for all urgent cancer referrals to see a specialist within two weeks.

It also has one of the better performances for reducing outpatient waiting times, in the top 20 in England.

Scarborough General Hospital, which is run by the trust, was one of 11 to withhold all data from the Sunday Times.

Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust was listed as having low staffing levels, but a better-than-expected mortality rate.

Friarage Hospital, run by the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, received seven awards for high-quality service including its emergency care, heart, stroke and cancer services.

Nobody from the York or Scarborough trusts was available for comment at the time of going to press.

Updated: 11:27 Monday, April 07, 2003