The pioneering work being carried out at Airedale General Hospital is at the “cutting edge for the whole country”, according to senior Government minister on a visit to the hospital.

Secretary of State for health Jeremy Hunt singled out the Steeton hospital’s innovative approach to caring for patients with long-term health problems.

Mr Hunt visited the hospital yesterday to see how staff supported patients with dementia and long-term conditions.

The MP for South West Surrey toured the hospital’s Telehealth Hub and a ward designed for people with dementia.

“I wanted to see some of the things happening at Airedale which are at the cutting edge for the whole of the country,” he said. “I’m incredibly impressed by the technology here which can really help people live healthily. There’s a strong culture of care and compassion at Airedale, which is something that is very much in the minds of the public at the moment.

“There is also some pioneering work going on here around the sharing of patient records between GP surgeries.”