HOSPITALS on Tyneside and Teesside have been voted as the best in the region after a survey which involved thousands of North-East patients.

The results of the sixth national inpatient survey, carried out by acute and specialist NHS trusts in England put Gateshead Health Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals Trust in joint poll position.

Both trusts were given scores of 6.9 out of 10 by patients, the highest in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

All the trusts were assessed in 10 broad areas and given green, amber or red 'lamps'. A green lamp meant the trust was significantly better than average in that area, amber meant the trust was no worse than any other and a red lamp meant that the trust was significantly worse than the national average in that category.

Gateshead was given six out of 10 green lamps and four amber lamps, compared with five out of ten green lamps and five amber lamps for South Tees.

Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust was also awarded five green lamps and five amber lamps and an overall patient rating of 6.7 out of 10.

Elsewhere in the region the North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust was given 6.6 out of 10 by patients, two green lamps and eight amber lamps.

County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust was given 6.5 out of 10 by patients, two green lamps and eight amber lamps.

York Health Services NHS Trust was also given a 6.5 rating along with three green and seven amber lamps.

South Tyneside Foundation Trust got 6.4 out of 10 and 10 amber lamps.

The only North-East hospital to get red lamps was Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust. The Scarborough trust was rated 5.9 out of ten and got seven amber and three red lamps.