ENGLAND'S Chief Inspector of Hospitals has rated St Helens Hospital 'outstanding', making it one of just three hospitals of its type nationally to be rated at this level.

Acute hospitals like St Helens are those intended for short-term medical or surgical treatment for adults.

Meanwhile, the the inspection - carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - rated Whiston Hospital as 'good' overall, but with maternity and gynaecology services 'requiring improvement'.

And St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - the managing body for both hospitals - was also awarded an overall rating of 'good' with an 'outstanding' level of patient care.

Areas of outstanding practice across the trust included a bed sore assessment tool developed in-house and areas for improvement included the staffing mix and the medicine storage system.

Outpatient and diagnostic imaging services at both hospitals were also rated 'outstanding' - the only outpatient and diagnostic service in the country to ever receive this rating.

Celebrating the positive results, Ann Marr, chief executive of St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are very proud to have received such a positive inspection report from the CQC; this is recognition for all our staff who work so hard to provide such a high level of care and service to our patients."

The trust's chair Richard Fraser said: "We are delighted the CQC has recognised the efforts of all our staff to deliver five star patient care. The report is a reflection of the high standards that the trust board and all our staff aspire to provide for every patient, every time they have contact with any of our services."

Following publication of the CQC report The Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said the trust is one of the best in the country.

He added: "Throughout our inspection we witnessed exemplary patient centred care. Patient safety and positive experiences were key priorities for the trust and underpinned all aspects of service planning and delivery."

A team of inspectors visited the two hospitals for three days in August 2015.