Patients from Ilkley have less chance of dying in their local hospital than anywhere else in the Northern and Yorkshire regions.

Airedale Hospital, Steeton, near Keighley, has the lowest mortality rate, despite having one of the lowest staffing levels, the Sunday Times Good Hospital Guide has revealed.

And it is one of the top trusts in ensuring that urgent breast cancer cases are seen by a specialist within two weeks.

The list has been compiled by the Imperial College School of Science, Technology and Medicine. It reveals that only six other trusts nationwide have a lower death rate.

Airedale has achieved the status despite having only 26 doctors per 100 beds, compared with Bradford Hospitals Trust which has 37 doctors per 100 beds.

Bradford hospitals are seventh in the region with Leeds teaching hospitals third. Dr Paul Godwin, Airedale NHS Trust medical director, said: "We are delighted with the news. We put this down to very enthusiastic and dedicated staff.

"We have a high standard of care despite having a low number of doctors."

The figures were drawn up after taking into account socio-economic factors and the average age of the population to give a level playing field on which to make a judgement.

He said the trust was always striving to improve and was about to employ another gynaecologist and two paediatricians, one for the hospital and the other to work in the community.

A Good Hospital Guide spokesman said: "It reveals that in the Northern and Yorkshire NHS region, Airedale NHS Trust has the lowest death rate - a crucial performance indicator by which a hospital can be judged.

"Airedale has a relatively low doctors' staffing level although it has one of the ten lowest mortality rates - low staffing levels are usually a factor in raising mortality rates.

"Airedale makes the top half of the 174 English trusts on inpatient waiting targets and is one of 72 to ensure all urgent breast cancer cases see a specialist within two weeks."

The report also highlights how Airedale has met targets to reduce inpatient waiting lists despite unprecedented demand.

It only narrowly failed to meet its target on outpatients. The hospital's one black mark was when an independent inquiry identified shortcomings in mental health provision after a psychiatric patient murdered a relative.

Airedale has 606 beds and covers a huge 600 square. mile catchment area from the Bingley, Keighley and Ilkley areas, Skipton and the far regions of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.