A REPORT that put Chorley Hospital at the bottom of a league table may have been based on the wrong figures, the publishers have admitted.

The latest Good Hospital Guide, printed in the Sunday Times at the weekend, says the hospital is one of the worst staffed in England.

It says the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes Chorley Hospital, is the worst staffed for doctors, and in the bottom five for nurses.

Independent publishers Dr Foster, who collected the figures, claim they based the report on Department of Health statistics.

Tim Kelsey, of Dr Foster, said: "We are still trying to get to the bottom of this. Dr Foster used published Department of Health figures to calculate the ratios and these figures appear to have been presented wrongly."

And Tony Curtis, the chief executive of the hospital trust, has questioned the figures.

Mr Curtis said: "We have concer..ns about the staffing figures quoted for doctors and nurses per 100 beds in the guide, which are totally inaccurate."

The guide praises the trust in certain areas, saying it has done well in limiting waiting times for inpatients, but that it only has 24 doctors per 100 beds, and 77 nurses.

Mr Curtis said: "Our records indicate that the number of doctors per 100 beds is in fact 48 and for nurses per 100 beds is 140.

"These are both above the national average.

"We are seeking urgent clarification from Dr Foster on the sources of information resulting in these errors, which could cause understandable concern among people using our service."

Tim Jones, spokesman for the department of health, said: "We are investigating these findings and will be clarifying them both with Dr Foster and with the trust."