ONE of the county's primary care trusts (PCT) has been ranked among the best in a national patient survey.

Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT has welcomed the survey by the Commission for Health Improvement, which shows that its service is rated very highly among patients in a number of fields.

The study was designed to provide feedback on patients' views of the care they had received from their local health service, which will then be used for quality improvement.

Chris Long, PCT chief executive, said: "We believe health care services in this area are of a very high standard.

"However, it is what people using those services think, rather than what we think, which is important.

"This is why the survey is so useful."