FIVE North-East hospitals are in the top 40 hospitals in the UK where patients are less likely to pick up infections.

The hospitals were praised by the leading hospital benchmarking company, CHKS, after high levels of performance in 20 key areas, from mortality rates to patient waiting times.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, will all be honoured at a ceremony in Birmingham, today.

Chief executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, Simon Pleydell, said: "We are delighted to receive this award for the seventh year running. It is a tribute to the skill, dedication and professionalism of our staff and demonstrates their commitment towards delivering a high-quality service for our patients.

"In another particularly challenging year for the trust, this is an indication that, despite the everyday pressures hospitals face, we are still able to achieve a good performance."

Figures released by the benchmarking expert revealed that patients treated at any of the CHKS 40 top hospitals were safer and less likely to pick up hospital acquired infections, such as MRSA, than if they were treated at other hospitals.

The company examined the number of deaths against the expected number of deaths for each hospital.

It discovered that, although overall mortality rates were falling for most hospitals, on average there were 297 fewer deaths than expected within each of the 40 hospitals, compared to 73 fewer deaths than expected for those outside this group.

The analysis also found there were 12 per cent fewer MRSA infections within the 40 and the use of beds was more efficient.

CHKS chief executive Graham Harries said: "Hospitals using our benchmarking tools are working to achieve targets in a very challenging environment. Good news stories in the NHS are often overshadowed and we are proud to highlight and reward some of the best practice and excellent work.

"These success stories should not only give patients faith in their health service but also reward staff for their dedication and efforts to improve their performance and provide the best possible service."