THE Friarage Hospital at Northallerton has been rated one of the best in the country according to a new survey.

The Good Hospital Guide in the Mail on Sunday newspaper gives the Friarage eight out of ten in its star rating. The mark puts the Friarage at 16 in the top 20 hospitals in Britain.

The rating was based on the assessment of mortality rates, doctor and nurse numbers, consultant post vacancies, waiting times for in and out and casualty patients, number of operations performed, complaints and key services such as intensive care, paediatrics and coronary care.

And Northallerton NHS Trust does well in waiting list figures published by the government last week. The trust has no one on its 12-month or 15-month waiting lists, bucking the national trend of rising figures.

The report showed 84pc of inpatients were seen within six months and 85pc were seen within three months.

Bruce Skilbeck, acting chief executive of Northallerton NHS Trust, said the results showed the hospital had turned the corner after coming under fire over the past two years over disgraced surgeon Richard Neale.

Mr Skilbeck said: "We have done exceptionally well. It is always nice to see good clinical practice rewarded.

"I am particularly pleased for the staff. This hospital has taken an awful lot of flak in the last two years and despite all that, people have got their heads down and got on with the job and this has been recognised. The staff are very happy about it - there is a bit of a buzz about the place."

The trust is due to be wound up at the end of March, with management of the Friarage being handed to South Tees NHS Trust.

Mr Skilbeck said: "Nothing will change. Clinical services will continue to be delivered just as efficiently as ever."