Airedale General Hospital is among the best in the country for caring for older people after falls, a national survey has found.

The Royal College of Physicians audit on falls, commissioned by the Healthcare Commission, found the hospital near Steeton was in the top 25 per cent for ensuring fracture patients have a shorter wait in A&E and are transferred quickly to the specialist ward and team.

It also found the hospital is in the top 25 per cent for providing full risk assessments for patients, including assessing balance, hazards and bone health before they return home to help prevent them falling again.

The hospital is in the top 50 per cent for providing surgery within the recommended 48 hours and giving high quality post operative care.

Dr Andrew Catto, commissioning director for acute services and elderly care consultant at Airedale Hospital, said: "We are extremely pleased with these results, which are a testament to the hard work of the staff.

"We do recognise there is even more we can do and we are continually developing our services. We have already developed an ortho-geriatric service and will shortly be offering a specialist falls service and new clinics.

"Also our service has recently benefited from the generosity of the Airedale Friends who made a very kind donation which has provided us with specialist falls assessment equipment for one of our wards."