HOSPITAL bosses in Leigh are celebrating after they were recognised as being one of the best performing hospitals in the country.

Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust retained its three star rating after the Government's Healthcare Commission announced the latest performance league table yesterday.

The Trust won top honours for a range of services, including better care in the Accident and Emergency department, shorter waiting lists, quicker out patient referrals, child protection, cleaner hospital environments, improving working lives for staff, financial management and rapid responses to patient complaints.

Sheena Cuminsky, chief executive of Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust, said: "We are delighted to again achieve a three star rating in this year's performance ratings. This is the very best possible score for all of our local hospitals.

"The staff in all of our hospitals work so very hard for the people of the borough and this rating reflects that work. Everyone connected with the Trust should all, each and everyone, feel very proud of the results.

"On behalf of the whole Trust Board, I would like to publicly thank everyone for their work over the last year."