By Ray Dunne BBC News Online health staff

Bedford Hospital received three stars in this year's NHS ratings

Ian Campbell, its deputy chief executive, told BBC News Online how the trust achieved its top-rating in such a short-space of time.

It's all smiles at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust this time around. But two years ago, it was a very different story.

In July 2002, senior managers were trying to put a brave face on a damning verdict from the Department of Health.

The trust had been awarded zero stars in the annual NHS ratings.

Two years on and the trust has joined a growing number of trusts with the top three-star rating.

"We are very happy," says Ian Campbell, the trust's deputy chief executive. "We have all worked very hard for this."

We have all worked very hard for this

The trust has shot up the NHS performance table. It is now meeting each of the government's key targets and is treating patients faster than before.

"Two years ago, if you came into A&E and you needed treatment, you had a one in four chance of waiting longer than four hours. Now, virtually no one waits more than four hours," says Mr Campbell.

"Two years ago, if your GP thought you may have cancer and referred you to our hospital you had a one in four chance of waiting longer than two weeks to be seen.

"Now, every single patient is seen within the two week target."

Waiting lists

The trust has also succeeded in cuttings its waiting lists.

The number of people waiting for non-emergency surgery has fallen by 20% in the past two years. The numbers waiting for an outpatient appointed has dropped by 15%.

Some of this has been achieved with the help of other hospitals and the private sector. But much of it is simply due to changes to the way staff work.

We monitor how we are doing against these targets regularly

"There is lots and lots of teamwork with people pulling together," says Mr Campbell.

But managers have also kept a very close eye on the government's targets.

Like the rest of the NHS, they were told which targets would be assessed in this year's star ratings.

"We are very clear what the targets are," says Mr Campbell.

"We have people working across the trust to deliver these targets.

"We monitor how we are doing against these targets regularly, sometimes even on a daily basis.

"We look at how we are performing against the A&E target every day. We look at waiting lists every week."

Secret of success

If there is a secret behind Bedford's success, it is planning.

"We are just better organised" says Mr Campbell. "We plan ahead now. We don't work on a crisis basis. Staff numbers haven't really increased."

As part of the improvements, patients are now given much more notice of when they are likely to have surgery.

They can chose a date that suits them rather than one that suits the hospital.

Improvements in the way the trust works with local social services, means it has no so-called bed-blockers.

"We have no delayed discharges because of social services," says Mr Campbell.

This year's three star rating means Bedford can now consider becoming a foundation trust and prizing itself away from government control

"It is something we would be interested in exploring," says Mr Campbell.