Health watchdogs have praised staff at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals for making significant progress in improving the treatment of heart surgery patients.

The review, by the Healthcare Commission, follows a 2007 report that said that while mortality rates were within the statistical limits, changes were needed to reclaim the hospital's reputation as a leading centre for heart surgery.

The Commission's progress report notes that a new model of care for looking after high-risk patients at Oxford is now in place. It includes improved data collection, more meetings for clinicians to discuss surgery, and written protocols to support high-risk patients.

Mary Cridge, of the Healthcare Commission in the South West, said: "It is clear that the trust has put considerable effort into developing a new care model for the many high-risk patients who come to Oxford."

The report follows last week's announcement by the Healthcare Commission that the ORH had scored the top grade "excellent" in this year's annual health check.

Elaine Strachan-Hall, one of the directors at the trust, said: "We have appointed additional doctors and nurses and we have become a base for substantial research programmes into the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac problems."

A new £29m cardiac centre at the John Radcliffe in Headington, which will treat 2,000 extra patients each year, is expected to open in January.

The project will provide new facilities for heart patients and create 200 jobs.