VARIATIONS in the standard of care offered by hospitals across the North-East and North Yorkshire have been highlighted in an independent survey of the nation's hospitals.

The Good Hospital Guide, compiled by health service scrutineer Dr Foster and published in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, revealed a widening gap between the best and worst hospitals, although on the whole services in the region fared well.

Using star ratings based on a number of factors, including doctor and nurse numbers, waiting times and number of operations performed, the survey placed Newcastle's hospitals among the top six hospitals in the country, with nine out of ten stars.

Northallerton's Friarage Hospital, in North Yorkshire, also did well, with eight stars putting it in the top 16 hospitals.

Those with the lowest star ratings in the region were Darlington Memorial, Bishop Auckland General, York District, Queen Elizabeth in Gateshead and the University Hospital of North Tees at Stockton - all with three stars.

The survey also found Gateshead's hospital had the best accident and emergency department in the country, while orthopaedic patients at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, had the shortest wait for hip replacements nationally.

Len Fenwick, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, said the survey offered an appropriate assessment, although he highlighted the difficulties in assessing and comparing hospitals and their standards.

He said the range of criteria had been used to provide a meaningful, but by no means perfect, assessment of the health service.

"It is good to see more independent assessments from an external agency that is drawing upon information gathered from trusts and additional sources," said Mr Fenwick.

"We are delighted to get nine stars, but it is the whole trust - the Freeman, the RVI, Newcastle General, the International Centre for Life and Walkergate Hospital, and not just the Freeman - that are included."