NORTHWICH’S Victoria Infirmary staff is celebrating the announcement its parent trust has won an international award for turning around its finances.

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Winnington Road Infirmary and Leighton Hospital, rubbed shoulders with Marks and Spencer and Lloyds TSB, when it received the 2007 Society of Turnaround Professionals (STP) Public Sector Turnaround Award.

BBC journalist Andrew Marr hosted the awards at London’s Dorchester Hotel last week.

Iain Lynam, Chairman of the STP, said: “The Trust worked exceptionally hard to turn itself around in such a short space of time and I had no hesitation in nominating it for the award.”

The Trust in 2005 had a financial black hole of £10m, was under-performing against national targets and standards, and had received a critical report from the Healthcare Commission.

The debt was wiped out within 17 months, and the Trust managed to generate a financial surplus.

Trust chief executive Phil Morley said: “The dedication and hard work shown by not only the management team but by staff across the whole of our organisation has led to this fantastic recognition by the STP.”

He added that the Trust was looking forward to receiving the go-ahead to become a Foundation Trust in the coming year.