How we're rated
In the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) annual health check ratings, every single acute hospital in the region, as well as the ambulance service is rated either 'excellent' or 'good' for quality of services, giving by far the highest score in England. 58 per cent of primary care trusts achieved a 'good' rating for quality of services, compared with 51 per cent nationally.
Eighteen of the 23 NHS organisations in the north east are also rated 'excellent' or 'good' for use of resources, including good budget management.
Three organisations - Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - received double 'excellent' scores for both quality of services and use of resources.
The region's two mental health trusts were both rated 'excellent' for use of resources and 'good' or 'fair' for quality of services.
This is the fourth year of the annual health check ratings, but the first year that the assessment has been conducted by the CQC, the new health and social care regulator for England.
The CQC sets rigorous standards for measuring NHS performance, using a range of quality criteria. These include: looking at ease of access to GP and dental appointments; screening and immunisation rates, waiting times and speed of access to treatment; patient and staff satisfaction levels; safety and cost effectiveness.
Find out more at the Care Quality Commission website.
End waiting, change lives - 18 week target
The vast majority of patients now start their treatment within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP. Which shows how we've cracked waiting lists and speeded up access. Read more in our news pack.
Coronary heart disease
In the north east, between 1993 and 2007, deaths from heart disease fell by 61% in people under 75 years of age.
In July 2007, the Healthcare Commission confirmed that the north east is one of the best areas in the country for treating patients who have heart failure.
Cancer treatment
In the north east, between 1993 and 2007, deaths from cancer fell by 25% in people under 75 years of age. Read more in our news pack.
Maternity
NHS hospital trusts in the north east provide the best maternity care in England according to the Healthcare Commission's 'Review of Maternity Services 2007' - the most comprehensive report on maternity services ever published. Read more in our news pack.
Smoking
The north east's NHS stop smoking services are continually rated as the best performing in the country. From April 2007 to March 2008, nearly 24,000 people used NHS stop smoking services to quit. Read more in our news pack.
