Cash strapped Mayday Hospital is delivering "fair" services to patients but is "weak" when it comes to the use of resources - according to the annual health check ratings produced by the Healthcare Commission.

Despite the London Road hospital's £6million funding deficit - which contributed to them dropping their application for foundation status earlier this year - it achieved nine out of 12 existing national targets as well as nine out of 12 new national targets.

Particular successes included meeting all cancer targets, achieving the 13 week outpatient and six month in-patient waiting times and successfully reducing MRSA rates.

And according to the Commission's findings almost all patients are seen, treated and either admitted or discharged from the accident and emergency department within four hours.

However, the hospital, which last year received the top rating of three stars, missed out on the target to increase the percentage of heart attack patients who receive thrombolysis to tackle blood clots within one hour of calling for help.

Mayday bosses defended the drop in rating and said that the new system takes into account a far wider range of activities than the previous ratings.

The hospital also said the Commission had identified no areas of concern but highlighted some areas for improvement.

Newly appointed Mayday chief executive Helen Walley said: "I am delighted that through the hard work and dedication of our staff Mayday delivers high quality, timely and safe services.

"The new ratings give us a secure basis on which to continue to work with our partners to provide faster, better care for the people of Croydon."