EAST Lancashire's health services helped the region take top honours in this week's performance tables.

Almost 90 per cent of the stars awarded to Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust were ranked three and above and 58 per cent of them were five stars.

And the CommuniCare NHS Trust was given five stars for both of the categories for which it was eligible.

Despite having to cope with record numbers of medical emergencies during the busiest winter in the history of the NHS, the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust was rewarded for assessing 95 per cent of patients within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency.

It also received appreciation for its outpatient record - 93 per cent of them were seen within 30 minutes of arrival.

The Trust ensured that all patients placed on an operation waiting list were seen within 12 months and a high proportion of non-urgent patients were seen in outpatients within 13 weeks of referral - and 99 per cent within 26 weeks.

Chief executive John Thomas said: "The maintenance of these high standards is remarkable considering the increase in emergency medical admissions during the winter period and is due to the dedication and commitment of our staff.

"The performance tables are only one indicator of the quality of our service and should not be read in isolation from the many other quality standards achieved by the trust."

Lancashire Ambulance Service came second among the 22 services functioning in rural areas.

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