Patients at Airedale Hospital are the most satisfied in the country according to a national report.

Airedale NHS Trust's top patient satisfaction record was recognised by the Dr Foster Good Hospitals Guide, which was published in the Sunday Times at the weekend.

It also named Airedale as having the lowest mortality rates for patients in the northern and Yorkshire region for the second year running.

Sunday's announcement was welcomed by director of nursing Melanie Hornett.

She said: "We are absolutely delighted to know that we have been named as the best in the country for something as important as patient satisfaction.

"We are very much a local hospital and it is important to be valued by the local people -- after all, it is the patients that the job is all about.

"We have built on last year's success and it is a great achievement and one which we will take forward into the future. It is due to the tremendous amount of hard work put in by our staff and it is a credit to everyone involved.

"It is also particularly important now we are planning to become an NHS Foundation Trust.

"As an NHS Foundation Trust we will give our local population the opportunity to contribute to the hospital's success and influence its direction.

"And these results show the level of support we already have from our local population."

The Good Hospital Guide is the only independent assessment of hospitals in the country, and provides a yearly report on hospital performance.

It said Airedale had achieved the highest patient satisfaction rating in England and put its short waiting times in the top 30. The hospital has the lowest mortality rate in the region -- despite low doctor numbers -- and confidence in the doctors is in the top 30.

Staff are also among the happiest and the accident and emergency department is among the 15 cleanest in the country.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer sent her congratulations to the hospital. She said: "I am delighted by this news. It confirms what most people in Keighley already know -- that Airedale is one of the very best hospitals in the country with the most professional and committed staff one can find.

"I would like to congratulate the staff and management of Airedale Hospital for such an outstanding result.

"This is also a testimony to the investment that the Government has put into the NHS."

Airedale NHS Trust, which is planning to become an NHS Foundation Trust in October, was in the top ten in last year's Good Hospital Guide and was in the shortlist for the Sunday Times Hospital of the Year.

It narrowly missed out on that award, which eventually went to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.