NURSING levels in York are among the worst in the country, according to the Government's hospital watchdog.

Bed-blocking at York District Hospital has also been criticised - but the report praises staff at the York Health Trust for their hard work and commitment to patient care.

The report, published today by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) following a six-month assessment last year, praises the trust for its good overall understanding of clinical risk management, and for introducing patient services assistants in many departments.

But it describes delayed discharges - highlighted in the Evening Press Care in Crisis campaign - as a "continuing problem", particularly within elderly units.

It says the extensive delays are "detrimental to the patients, their families and also trust staff".

And nursing levels are described as some of the worst in the country - on the same day as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said national nursing shortages would "severely jeopardise" the success of the Government's NHS modernisation plans.

Alison Sayers, RCN representative for York District Hospital, said: "We are actively trying to recruit more staff, but it seems to have become a culture over the years that we haven't really taken on any extra staff, despite the number of patients increasing.

"We have had many staff reaching retirement age, and with increasing house prices we could find recruitment a problem in the future."

Unison representative Edna Mulhearn added: "We are understaffed and it has become increasingly frustrating and sometimes stressful for the staff. Patients are in no way placed in an unsafe position, but we need more staff to be able to improve quality of care."

Trust chairman Alan Maynard said: "The report is generally good. But we do have a problem with staffing levels. Intensity of the job has increased and so has the number of patients going through the system. The staff are doing a wonderful job but we desperately need more nurses." Trust chief executive Simon Pleydell said: "With regard to delayed discharges, CHI fully recognises the importance of social services, the primary care trust and the health authority being actively involved in seeking a resolution."

He said new funding of £440,000 would be made available for nursing and midwifery staff in 2002-2003, with a planned increase in funding of £2 million by 2005.

"The report is overwhelmingly positive and constructive in supporting the trust's commitment to provide a first-class service for patients. The many areas of good practice referred to in the report are the result of the excellent work carried out by all our staff.

"We were aware of key issues identified in the report and are already making good progress in improving our standards.

"Providing better patient care is our goal and everyone at the trust is working hard to achieve this."

Peter Homa, CHI chief executive, said: "York Health Services NHS Trust has demonstrated many examples of good practice and also some areas that need improvement. It should be praised for its hard work and successes, but must ensure that it continues to work to resolve outstanding difficulties. The trust has produced an action plan in response to our report, and through implementation of this quality of patient care will improve further."

Updated: 11:23 Tuesday, February 19, 2002