AIREDALE NHS Foundation Trust has struck gold.

It has received the top, gold award for data compliance relating to orthopaedic patient safety and quality of care.

The accolade is from the National Joint Registry, which monitors the performance of hip, knee, ankle, elbow and shoulder joint replacement procedures.

A main aim of the initiative is to improve clinical outcomes for patients, and support orthopaedic clinicians and industry manufacturers.

The National Joint Registry Quality Data Provider scheme was introduced to provide hospitals across the country with a blueprint for attaining high patient safety standards and to reward those that meet registry targets.

In 2022-23, three tiers of achievement were introduced – with gold being awarded for "excellence".

To qualify for the top award, hospitals must meet a series of six stringent targets – including compliance with the National Joint Registry's mandatory nationwide audit.

A National Joint Registry spokesperson says: "Our data quality audit compares the number of joint replacement procedures submitted to the registry with the number carried out and recorded in the local hospital patient administration system.

"The audit ensures that the registry is collecting and reporting upon the most complete, accurate data possible across all hospitals that perform joint replacement operations, including Airedale. Our targets also include having a high level of patients consenting for their details to be included in the registry so that they can be more easily contacted in future should the need arise."

Karen Burnett, hospital data manager for the National Joint Registry at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, says: "Improving patient safety is of the utmost importance and something all staff take very seriously. We fully support the National Joint Registry's work in facilitating improvement in clinical outcomes for the benefit of joint replacement patients, and we're delighted to be awarded gold."

National Joint Registry medical director, Tim Wilton, says: "Congratulations go to colleagues at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. The Quality Data Provider Award demonstrates the high standards being met towards ensuring compliance with the registry and is often a reflection of strong departmental efforts to achieve such status.

"As well as being a fundamental driver to inform improved quality of care for patients, registry data provides an important source of evidence for regulators, such as the Care Quality Commission, to inform their judgements about the quality of health services."

For further information about the National Joint Registry Quality Data Provider scheme, go to njrcentre.org.uk