A senior Government minister has praised Airedale Hospital during a speech in the House of Commons today.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt highlighted the quality of care at Airedale as he announced a package of measures designed to benefit NHS patients in the wake of the Stafford Hospital scandal.

Also speaking in the Commons, following Mr Hunt’s Tuesday lunchtime statement, Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said his constituents were fortunate to have a high performing general hospital on their doorstep.

But he asked the Health Secretary if he accepted that even hospitals like Airedale could not afford to be complacent over how they treat patients.

Mr Hunt said he agreed with this point, adding: “I recently visited Airedale Hospital and was very impressed with the level of care that I saw there.

“It is one of the only hospital trusts in the country – if not the only hospital trust – where doctors are able to see the full prescribing history of patients going into A&E. This has a very important impact on patient safety.”

Mr Hunt came to Airedale in January to see how staff were supporting patients with dementia and long-term conditions.

He toured the hospital’s Telehealth Hub, and a ward designed for people with dementia.