AIREDALE has been named one of the country's 40 top-performing hospitals.

It has received the accolade from CHKS, an independent provider of healthcare intelligence and quality improvement.

Results were announced at a ceremony in London.

It is the sixth time Airedale has achieved the honour.

And this year the trust was the only one in West Yorkshire to earn the award, which is based on an evaluation of over 20 key performance indicators covering safety, clinical effectiveness, health outcomes, efficiency, patient experience and quality of care.

Bridget Fletcher, chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted to be judged one of the top 40 hospitals in the country.

"This success is entirely due to our hard-working, compassionate staff and their commitment to providing safe, high-quality services for our patients.

"The fact we have received this honour six times now is testament to our ability to maintain excellent services year after year."