A hospital trust ranked among the lowest in England in newly published league tables says its position "reflects the real structural challenges we face as a rural, remote health system".

The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) came joint 130th in the table of 134 acute hospital trusts in England.

There was better news for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust which was ranked ninth in the country.

Elsewhere in the region, South Tyneside & Sunderland was 21st, one place above North Tees & Hartlepool. However South Tees, Gateshead Health and Morecambe Bay were all listed among the 80s.