EXTRA cash has been prescribed for Blackpool Victoria Hospital after scooping top marks in the new NHS star rating system.

The Vic was one of just four Trusts in the North West to achieve three star status which is only awarded to hospitals with the highest levels of performance.

And patients could soon benefit as the Vic reaps cash rewards and new freedoms to help them become an even better performing trust.

David Gill, chief executive of Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust, said: "It is tremendous news for the hospital, the patients and the staff.

"As a result of achieving this rating, the Trust will be given new freedoms including enabling us to become a pilot site for new initiatives and receive extra cash without having to bid for it."

The Trust was assessed in a number of areas including financial performance, waiting times, staff vacancies, complaints, deaths in hospital and trolley waits.

And the Vic achieved the Government's targets through implementing a series of initiatives, including:

INTRODUCTION of partial booking, booked admissions and a centralised waiting list system -- all schemes to improve access to treatment, cut waiting lists and reduce the number of patients who fail to turn up for appointments.

WAITING list initiatives in general surgery and ophthalmology to help patients be seen quicker.

24-HOUR bed management -- a scheme to improve the flow of patients through the hospital system by monitoring where beds are free and identifying any potential problems early.

GUARANTEEING appointments for urgent cancer referrals within two weeks -- this has been done through the introduction of a dedicated central fax machine for those referrals and specific slots in consultant clinics.

MAJOR improvements in the recruitment and retention of staff, particularly nurses.

Mr Gill said a lot of hard work had been put into achieving three stars and it was the result of the consistent efforts by doctors, managers and other staff across the hospital to improve performance. He added: "What we must do now is to continue to focus on these key areas to maintain and improve our performance even further."