Yorkshire Ambulance Service rated 'good' by inspectors

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised serious concerns about dirty ambulances and out of date lifesaving equipment in a report in 2015.

It said it was facing “real challenges” in delivering quality services and highlighted concerns in relation to equipment checks and maintenance.

The CQC has now rated the service as ‘good’, following a visit in September 2016 which looked at all key services, including emergency operations centres, urgent and emergency care and patient transport.

Sir Mike Richards, the chief inspector of hospitals, said: “The Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust faced real challenges, which were apparent at our previous inspection.

“Although we found a caring organisation in 2015, we told the trust it must improve the safety, effectiveness, and responsiveness of the service it was providing to the people of Yorkshire.

“Since then, the trust, has worked hard to address the issues we raised,.”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service serves five million people across the county.

Rod Barnes, chief executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “All of our services demonstrated significant improvement since the CQC’s inspection in January 2015.

“We do recognise, however, that there is always more we can do to improve.”