Airedale Hospital's maternity department has been praised in a national assessment.

The Healthcare Commission maternity review named Airedale as one of the better performing NHS trusts in the country for providing high-quality, value-for-money services.

The review took into account 25 different factors, including staffing levels, numbers of midwives and consultants, mothers' opinions of the delivery suites and standards of care, and the welfare of mums and babies.

It covered the care provided from the time pregnant women first accessed maternity services to their sign-off by the midwife - usually around ten days after the birth.

Airedale Hospital received the highest possible score for having a strong safety culture.

And it also scored highly for standards of post natal care, choice in delivery, women being supported well in caring for their babies, support for infant feeding, quality of support after discharge, homeliness of delivery rooms, cleanliness, right length of stay and delivery of hospital-based ante natal care.

Kath Walsh, head of midwifery services at Airedale NHS Trust, said: "We are very pleased that our maternity services have again been recognised for their high quality. Our staff are committed to giving the best care possible and are constantly working to improve and develop the service "

Jo Dent, head of the Healthcare Commission in the north of England, said: " This is a real achievement by the midwives and all who work with them, and they deserve our congratulations."