THE Royal Bolton Hospital has been praised in Parliament.

Both Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon and health minister Andy Burnham, who is also the MP for Leigh, highlighted the work that has been done at the hospital to increase efficiency and reduce waste - allowing staff to dedicate more time to saving lives.

Dr Iddon is calling for the hospital to be held up as a model of best practice to other hospitals across the country.

He said: "Lean management techniques have encouraged the staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital to think about the way in which they do their work, highlight areas where inefficiencies occur, and work to solve them.

"I think the Department of Health should look to Bolton as a model of best practice for its drive for efficiency and consequent value for money."