FOUR Merseyside hospitals received top marks in a yearly assessment of how they look after patients and their finances.

Results from the Care Quality Commission’s Annual Health Check, released today, show most of the region’s NHS trusts are performing well.

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and St Helens and Knowsley hospitals trust both received double “excellent” scores for the second year running.

The annual rating comes in two parts, with each trust assessed on a four-point scale – from “excellent” to “weak” – for both their quality of services and their financial management.

The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals trust and Alder Hey children’s hospital were also marked double “excellent”.

But many of the region’s primary care trusts saw their marks drop from “excellent” last year to “good” this year. North West Ambulance also only scored “fair” for its services.

No “weak” marks were given in the region for services or finances.

Points were given for categories such as waiting time targets, hospital infection figures and Government guidelines.

Clatterbridge’s acting chief executive Andrew Cannell said: “This is a challenging assessment and we are absolutely delighted to achieve the highest rating for the second year running. “Over the last year, we have taken steps to make further service improvements and it is extremely encouraging to see this reflected in this year’s results.”

Tony Bell, chief executive of the Royal and Broadgreen, was also pleased with the trust’s top marks.