Airedale Hospital’s achievement in being named the joint second-best hospital in England in the annual Dr Foster report has been hailed on the floor of the House of Commons by Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins.

Speaking at Business Questions, Mr Hopkins told MPs: “Airedale General Hospital in my constituency has been named as one of two Trust of the Year runners-up in the Dr Foster hospital guide as a result of low mortality and its high clinical efficiency rating in the past 12 months.”

He asked Leader of the House Andrew Lansley: “May we have a statement on high-performance hospitals, so that the Health Secretary can join me in congratulating the chief executive, Bridget Fletcher, and her staff on winning such an accolade?”

Responding, Mr Lansley – a former Secretary of State for Health himself – said he was happy to join the Keighley and Ilkley MP “in congratulating the chief executive and her staff at Airedale General NHS Foundation Trust”.

He added: “I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting several years ago - it is a fine hospital. It has a high reputation not only locally, but nationally.”