MENTAL health services across Hertfordshire have received a good rating from watchdog inspectors. The Healthcare Commission put the county into the three-star category after assessing issues like access to services, whether care arrangements address a ran

MENTAL health services across Hertfordshire have received a good rating from watchdog inspectors.

The Healthcare Commission put the county into the three-star category after assessing issues like access to services, whether care arrangements address a range of needs and the involvement of people in decisions about their care.

Mental health services are provided by Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust, which is funded by Hertfordshire County Council and the local primary care trusts.

Cllr Sally Newton, executive member for adult care and health, said: "The dedicated professionals delivering these vital services perform to a high standard every day and this rating is recognition of that.

"We must hope that their ability to keep delivering those services is not compromised by financial recovery plans in the health service.

"A good rating is pleasing but we will continue to strive for improvement across the service.

"It is important that we take on board recommendations from the Commission to help us achieve our goal of attaining a four-star excellent rating next time round."

The Commission reviewed 174 mental health services in England, analysing perfomance data and patient surveys.

Ratings range from four stars for excellent to one star for weak.

Inspectors gave Hertfordshire excellent ratings on the availablity of information about needs assessments for carers, the extent to which service users are directly provided with information and for addressing physical health needs.

Other issues that impressed the commission included the level of 24-hour access to specialist mental health services - such as a helpline and an on-call duty psychiatrist - and the number of adults aged 18 to 64 with mental health needs who were helped to live at home.

Bill Macintyre, chief executive of Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "We are delighted with this result, which reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff.

"We are committed to improving the standard of care that we provide for people with mental health needs."

A spokesman for Bedfordshire County Council said they had not yet received their rating or category for mental health services across the county but were expecting them next week.