THE Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the Midlands Air Ambulance Airbase as outstanding following its first inspection in August and September.
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity provides pre-hospital emergency care and treatment via helicopter and rapid response car emergency medical services.
It covers Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands and the surrounding areas, serving a population of around 6million people.
CQC carried out this inspection as part of their continual checks on the safety and quality of healthcare services.
Following the inspection, both services have been rated ‘outstanding’ overall, as well as for being safe, responsive, effective and well-led.
Caring was rated as good.
Andy Brand, CQC deputy director of operations in the Midlands, said:
“We were impressed to find two extremely well-led services that went above and beyond to ensure people were responded to quickly and effectively in emergency situations.
“Both services always met agreed response times and feedback from people was continually positive.
“People and relatives cared for by both services, told us they were treated with kindness, respect, and dignity.”
The inspection also said the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity was open to learning and continuous improvement. The service also reported areas of excellence so staff could learn from events that had gone particularly well.
Mr Brand added:
“All staff should be proud of the care they’re providing to people in emergencies.
“They clearly work hard to provide exceptional care and other providers should look at these reports to see if there’s anything they can learn.”
