Staff working at the health trust that runs King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, and Mansfield Community Hospital have scored highly in a national NHS survey.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust was rated as having one of the happiest teams in England, according to the NHS staff survey.

The trust had the best overall engagement score in the East Midlands for acute (hospital) trusts and was the 11th best in England.

It was the first time Sherwood Forest had has been rated the highest in the East Midlands.

It was also the top acute trust in the East Midlands and the joint eighth best in England as a place to work and receive treatment.

The trust was rated the best in the East Midlands, and joint sixth in England, for staff satisfied with their quality of work and care they provide.

For the third consecutive year the number of staff who would recommend Sherwood Forest Hospitals as a place to work and as a place to receive care improved.

Trust chief executive Richard Mitchell said: “I am pleased and proud that, once again, colleagues feel Sherwood is a great place to work and receive treatment and these findings have confirmed we have some of the most engaged staff across the NHS.

“We know an engaged workforce is directly linked to improved patient care so this is a really important aspect of the survey.

“Our overall score has again improved over the last 12 months and this is testament to the hard work of colleagues, especially at a time when all NHS staff are under alot of pressure.

“These impressive results round-off a positive year for Sherwood, as our overall CQC rating improved to ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ for care.