AN elite North-East hospital trust which was unexpectedly downgraded has been shortlisted for an award.

The Newcastle Hospitals Trust and Harrogate Health Care are in the running for the Sunday Times Hospital of the Year award.

The recognition provides a boost for the Newcastle trust's reputation after the disappointment of losing one of its three stars in the last round of official grading.

The Tyneside trust, which includes the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle General Hospital and the Freeman Hospital, excelled in ten out of 12 key areas, according to the Sunday Times.

The Newcastle trust performed well in breast, lung, stomach and bowel cancer; strokes; hip fractures; diabetes; and rapid assessment and treatment in accident and emergency and paediatric and renal.

Its 80 per cent survival rate for kidney transplants is one of the highest in the country.

A behind-the-scenes campaign to restore the missing third star has been under way for the past year.

Losing its three-star status means it is unlikely to be in the first waves of foundation trusts.

The Harrogate trust, which already has three stars, was second only to Airedale hospital in West Yorkshire in terms of low patient mortality rates.

Newcastle and Harrogate were the only two trusts in the North-East and Yorkshire to be nominated for the top award.

The winners will be revealed in The Sunday Times this weekend.