A national stroke services audit has placed Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as one of the best in the country at treating stroke patients.

The foundation trust, which manages Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital, is in the top 20 per cent of trusts in the country, with some of the best recovery rates and a lower than average death rate.

The national average mortality rate at 30 days is 22 per cent. At the foundation trust it 15 per cent.

Dr Chris Patterson, consultant in strokes and elderly care for Bradford Teaching Hospitals said: "The audit looks at many aspects of stroke services and we came out very well across the board.

"We are very good at making sure stroke patients are cared for in a specialist stroke unit.

"Ninety per cent of our patients are treated in the stroke unit at some stage - the national average is 66 per cent.

"Patients who get onto a stroke unit are known to have much better outcomes, they are less likely to die, more likely to regain independence and more likely to return home.

"We also scored particularly well at early brain scanning, early aspirin treatment, prompt physiotherapy assessments, rehabilitation and carrying out home visits."

The national stroke audit survey 2006 looked at 224 NHS acute trusts. It is carried out every two years.