AN MP has congratulated a North-East hospital's team for being shortlisted into the NHS Parliamentary Awards.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Simon Clarke congratulated the Thoracic Surgical Team at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The Thoracic Surgical Team, which specialises in the surgical treatment of chest diseases, were named North-East and Yorkshire Regional Champions in the NHS Parliamentary Awards' Excellence in Health Care category.

Mr Clarke said: "Our brilliant NHS staff deserve recognition for all their hard work and it was an honour to submit several nominations from Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland this year and learn more about the fantastic care initiatives going on in our area.”

"The Excellence in Health Care Award recognises individuals or teams who go above and beyond to improve outcomes and experience for patients living with and beyond these major health conditions or work to prevent them.

"The team are one of just seven nominations shortlisted for the national award."

Members from the team will now attend the prestigious awards ceremony on July 10, before the overall national winner will be announced.

Mr Clarke said: "They provide pioneering treatment for lung cancer patients and the hospital is home to the longest continuously established Robotic Thoracic Surgery programme in the UK – they have performed numerous firsts in the field and are also a national referral unit."

The Thoracic Surgical Team are said to be working with a British company on a pioneering-new robotics system.

The MP said he was "delighted" to see the team included in the shortlist. He also commended the team's work which minimised the "invasiveness of surgery" and reduced patient recovery times.

He added: "I look forward to welcoming team members in July and wish them the best of luck in the national competition.”