AMBULANCE services in the region have been named as ‘outstanding’ in a new report.

The Care Quality Commission has once again rated West Midlands Ambulance Service as ‘Outstanding’, the highest possible rating for a health and social care regulator.

The CQC inspected the Service in April and June, looking at core services of urgent and emergency care and patient transport services along with the leadership of the organisation.

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The service was rated as ‘Outstanding’ for services being effective, caring, responsive and well-led, and ‘Good’ for services being safe.

The CQC’s chief inspector, Professor Ted Baker, said: “There was a positive culture that supported and valued staff and a strong and embedded focus on continuous improvement to offer the best quality service for patients, and effective systems for identifying risks or plans to eliminate or reduce them.

“Overwhelmingly this is an Outstanding trust and the hard work of staff across the trust continues to be exemplary. WMAS are making a real difference to people, and the trust and its staff should be very proud of what they do.”

WMAS 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."

Trust chairman, Sir Graham Meldrum, added: “Helping others is at the heart of everything we do and I am hugely pleased that the CQC saw a positive, patient centred culture within the Trust with hard working staff proud to work here and making a real difference to patients’ lives.

“Compassion is a large part of our role and I am equally proud that the report highlighted staff were outstanding in the way they support people who are distressed or overwhelmed in stressful situations."