HEALTH authority chiefs are confident Darent Valley Hospital will achieve a one-star rating.

The Dartford hospital was given a zero-star rating from the Government and branded the worst hospital in the country in September.

It was given three months to turn itself around and in a month former chief executive Anne-Marie Dean resigned. Now West Kent Health Authority chiefs are confident the hospital can gain a one-star status.

A recent health authority report states: "Progress has been made in out-patients and other areas of service are now also beginning to improve."