IT was joy for Tyneside and disappointment for Teesside as this year's NHS star ratings were published.

While it was all smiles at the flagship Newcastle Hospitals Trust, which won its third star back, there was disappointment at South Tees Hospitals Trust, which went from two stars to one star.

Generally, NHS star ratings in the region -three for good, two for satisfactory, one for must do better -indicated the North-East and North Yorkshire Health Service had improved in the past year.

Eight trusts gained at least one extra star, while four trusts lost a star.

Last year, there was an outcry on Tyneside when the highly-rated Newcastle trust lost one of its three stars, awarded this year by the Healthcare Commission.

Regaining the third star means the trust can be considered for foundation status as early as October.

Sir Miles Irving, chairman of the Newcastle trust, said: "Tribute must be paid to our staff and the very supportive public who have contributed so much to our success."

Simon Pleydell, chief executive of the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes the 1,000-bed James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, said: "We need to put this result into context with issues we faced last year.

"We moved on to the James Cook site, which was a major achievement, though it inevitably affected our performance, but since November we achieved all our waiting time targets until the end of the year."

The South Tees Trust was criticised because too many outpatients were waiting too long for an appointment.

Another loser was the York hospital trust, which slipped from three to two stars.

Hospital bosses at County Durham and Darlington were celebrating after they gained a third star, which could lead to foundation status.

Three stars were achieved by hospitals at Gateshead, North Tees and Hartlepool, Northumbria, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Scarborough, which was given a single star last year, was given two stars.

The North East Ambulance Service received another three stars while the neighbouring Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service, which scored a zero last year, showed signs of recovery by being awarded one star.

In the mental health sector, most trusts were awarded two stars, including the previously three-star Tees and North East Yorkshire Trust, but Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland was given one star again.

Most primary care trusts were given two stars, but three stars were awarded to Durham and Chester-le-Street; Sunderland; Craven, Harrogate and Rural; Hambleton and Richmondshire; Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale; and Selby and York.

Sedgefield moved from one to two stars and North Tees PCT went from two to one.