Airedale NHS Trust board members congratulated accident and emergency staff for recording excellent results in a national survey.

Bridget Fletcher, director of nursing, said the 2008 Healthcare Commission patient survey showed Airedale’s A&E wing was performing extremely well.

Its services were assessed by means of a questionnaire and the results ranked Airedale far ahead of emergency departments in Bradford, Calderdale, East Lancashire, Harrogate and Leeds.

Ms Fletcher said this was a “fantastic” outcome.

Mr Cairns said it was particularly pleasing bearing in mind the physical limitations imposed on staff by the internal layout of A&E.