The specialist children's hospital has become the first of its kind to receive a rating of "outstanding" from healthcare inspectors in England.

In a major boost for staff and patients, the health watchdog lavished praise on it – just eight years after it faced damning criticism for substandard care.

Most areas in BCH were given either the top rating, or classed as good, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission, carried out last year. The rating has been widely welcomed on social media, with locals sharing the love for the children’s hospital.

Inspectors highlighted a number of examples of outstanding practice, including the hospital’s safety routines within the paediatric intensive care unit, and approach to care of terminally ill children.

The findings, published on Tuesday, also commended the trust’s implementation of a rare diseases strategy, describing it as “innovative” in allowing children to have one appointment with all clinicians rather than multiple visits to different doctors.

The trust tweeted:

We’re proud to be #ByYourSide with our ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating. Find out more in this short film with @BWCHBoss https://t.co/R5fYIgtjfP

— Bham Children's Hosp (@Bham_Childrens) February 21, 2017

Staff at the hospital were found to work together well in a supportive environment, referred to as “Team BCH”, with parents and children praising the 'dignity and respect' they were treated with. The recognition comes after a 2009 report found patients experiencing delays in treatment, substandard care and youngsters being redirected to other services.

The hospital is a multi award-winning facility, regarded as one of the best Children's Hospitals in the world. It has a reputation for excellence in many life-changing specialist services and is the home to Europe’s largest single site paediatric intensive care unit as well as being a specialist unit for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.