PATIENTS at the Royal Bolton Hospital are waiting less time for treatment, are eating good food and are sleeping in clean and well-kept wards.

Tthe findings of today's report by the Commission for Health Improvement comes as no surprise to the hospital's hard-working doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff.

Many believed they did not deserve to get a one-star rating in last year's demoralising report. But they still picked themselves up and tried harder than ever to make their Minerva Road home a better place for patients to get well.

Their achievement in getting two stars this year comes as no surprise to one 16-month-old patient, Inaam Shah, and her 25-year-old mum, Raftaz Fatima.

Raftaz, from Deane, said: "My daughter had breathing difficulties and was brought into the children's ward to recover after having an operation.

"All the nurses have have really looked after her. I knew they would be good but they've been more than wonderful. I can't thank them enough." Staff Nurse Joanne O'Grady said: "We've all done well, but we've got to keep going. We're going to try to get three stars next year."

Just 12 months ago the Royal's staff were feeling dejected after being told that they were working in one of the worst hospital's in the region.

But they soon began trying get waiting times down while keeping up the high standards of catering and cleanliness.

Senior Nurse Vicky Welsby, who has worked at the Royal for 18 years, said staff morale reached an all-time high when the new report came out today.

She said: "A lot of us didn't think we deserved to get just one star last year, but we're still determined to make things better. We all feel very proud today."

Auxiliary Nurse Kim Arpino, who been at the hospital for 15 years, said she has also seen a lot of improvements in the past year.

She said: "It's been a difficult year for everyone but we've all worked hard. This report is great news for all the staff and for our patients."

Now the hospital's staff have got their minds focused on the year ahead and are already trying to look at ways of improving the hospital over the next 12 months.