Department of Health figures show that patients who undergo a hip replacement stay at the Bury St Edmunds hospital for 3.7 days – 2.6 days less than the national average – while knee replacement patients stay 5.8 days – 1.3 less than average.

This means West Suffolk Hospital is the best performing acute hospital in the country. Only three specialist orthopaedic centres, which concentrate on joint replacement surgery, have recorded shorter lengths of stay.

Matthew Porteous, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said: "This is great news for our patients. Not only do people recover more quickly once they go home, but shorter lengths of stay mean we can see more patients, in turn keeping waiting times to a minimum."

Since 2000, the number of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery at West Suffolk has risen from 200 a year to more than 800, however the average length of stay has more than halved, reducing from around 12 days in the early 2000s to fewer than four now.

The reduction is the result of a number of initiatives, including a 'one stop shop' initial appointment where patients are given an X-ray, explanation of the procedure and surgery date on their first visit to the hospital.

- West Suffolk Hospital has been rated the second best out of 18 acute hospitals in the East of England when it comes to patient and staff experience.

The findings followed a survey of patients and staff and also looked at written complaints. It then rated the hospitals on eight criteria including waiting times, and cleanliness.