Health chiefs on Teesside are celebrating a £100,000 Government "gold star" for having one of the quickest casualty departments in the country.
More than 96pc of all patients who arrive at North Tees and Hartlepool Trust's accident and emergency departments are admitted, treated and discharged within four hours.
That is even better than the Government set target of 94pc.
Recognition of this achievement has now come through the NHS Accident and Emergency Incentive Scheme with a cheque for an extra £100,000 to improve resources.
A&E manager Stephen Groves said: "It is testament to all the hard work our staff put into seeing and treating patients quickly and also our proactive bed management scheme."
He said the £100,000 would be spent on computer software to make bed management even more efficient.
"We have very high standards at this trust and we don't want to rest on our laurels. We would like to see 100pc of patients treated by the A&E department within four hours or less."
There was also praise from Stockton South MP, Dari Taylor, who said she was particularly proud the trust had surpassed the national standard.
"Everyone who has ever used A&E services will know how important meeting this target is, and North Tees and Hartlepool are clearly putting patients first," she said.
