West Midlands Ambulance Service is delighted to once again be rated as ‘outstanding’ by the health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC); the highest possible rating. The Trust’s previous inspection also received a rating of ‘outstanding’ and has maintained its position as the only ambulance service to be rated as such.
The CQC report, published on the 22nd August 2019, follows the regulator’s inspections to the Trust in April and June 2019.
The report specifically highlighted:
“The trust and its staff should be very proud of what they do”
West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said:
“This is fantastic news and is down to the hard work of staff and the volunteers
who support us, for providing the best possible care to patients across the West Midlands. I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of you for helping us to maintain our position as the best ambulance service in the country. That’s not me saying it, but the organisation that looks at the safety and care of our patients. This rating reflects the hard work and professionalism of our staff and provides the recognition they rightly deserve. To have independent inspectors make such positive comments about the Trust is incredible; it is rare that any Trust has received such high praise from the CQC. I am particularly pleased that they have specifically highlighted the work of the Patient Transport Service, who were more challenged the last time the CQC came. Today’s report specifically comments on how responsive PTS staff are to the changing needs of patients and highlights the work of the ambulance liaison assistants who support patients waiting for transport to minimise distress. However, we accept that there is further work to be done and we will continue to strive to improve services and support staff even better than we already are.”