INCREASING pressure on services and a lack of beds is being blamed after Princess Alexandra Hospital was ranked among the worst in the country in the health league tables.

The Harlow hospital received a one-star rating in the acute hospital last, a dramatic drop from last year when it was one of just 35 trusts to be given the top three-star award.

Health bosses have defended the hospital's performance and put the fall down to the high number of patients waiting in accident and emergency for a hospital bed as well as the number of cancelled operations.

Chief executive Gary Belfield said: "This is a disappointing score following last year, but it's important to recognise that both categories where we have scored poorly are linked to one major problem facing the trust.

"This is a consistently rising demand for our services without a corresponding increase in our bed capacity."

The trust scorecard shows that targets for people waiting on trollies were significantly underachieved while the trust scored just two out of five for accident and emergency waiting times and underachieved when it came to cancelled operations.

However it scored well in several areas including inpatient and outpatient waiting times, cleanliness and the two week cancer waiting time. Top marks were also given in emergency readmittance of patients following their discharge.

Mr Belfield said: "In the short term we will open the emergency medical unit next to the hospital's accident and emergency, where patients referred to by GPs can be treated and assessed immediately without having to wait in the department."

The hospital also hopes to gain funding for a £2m centre dedicated for people coming in for operations and minor treatments.

Trust chairman Robert Powell said the one-star rating "in no way reflects the excellent work of our staff who continue to provide the very highest standards of care".