CANCER patients in St Helens and Knowsley get the best care in the north west, according to new research.

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust came fourth in a league table ranking cancer patients' experience across England.

Macmillan Cancer Support released the list of the top 10 trusts in England following a study carried out by NHS England.

The only other north west trust to appear in the top 10 is East Cheshire NHS Trust, which is in fifth place.

Fay Scullion, general manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Northern England and the East Midlands, said: "We congratulate St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for achieving some of the best results in the recent patient experience survey.

"We know that the support and care people receive is as important as their actual treatment and can make all the difference between coping with cancer and finding it a real struggle.

"For example, being told about financial help that is available or being provided with high quality information about their cancer and its treatment."

England's top three trusts were all in the north - South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

The league table compares the performance of hospitals across the country based on measures of patients’ experiences while being treated such as: whether their diagnosis and treatment options were explained clearly to them; whether they felt supported in their care; and whether they felt they were treated with respect.

Anyone who would like support in coping with cancer, or who would like to know what to expect when going through their treatment, can call 0808 8080000 or visit macmillan.org.uk.