CQC rates Essex & Herts Air Ambulance as ‘outstanding’

“People’s lives continue to be saved because of the trust’s excellent standards, and other services can look to it as an example of how to deliver outstanding care.”
Zoe Robinson, CQC Head of Hospital Inspection

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) as outstanding overall following inspections carried out in August and September.

The service, which provides emergency care to critically ill and injured patients in Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas, was inspected as part of CQC’s ongoing checks to assess the quality of care being provided. It found that the trust delivered an outstanding service that was saving lives across the region. And, as well as being rated outstanding overall, it was also rated outstanding for being safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs, and well-led.

Ben Myer, Head of Clinical Delivery (CQC Registered Manager) at EHAAT, is extremely proud of the CQC rating, which recognises everyone who plays a part in the charity’s life-saving work. He said: “This is an amazing and truly outstanding result for the whole charity; everyone worked so hard to make the desired result a reality”.

Zoe Robinson, CQC Head of Hospital Inspection, said, “We were very impressed to find such outstanding levels of care being provided by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.

“The level of teamwork at the service was exemplary and staff and managers worked together and supported one another to deliver the best possible outcomes for people. Patients were valued and respected and their individual needs and preferences were always considered. Feedback from those using the service and their loved ones was overwhelmingly positive and people told us that staff went the extra mile for them and exceeded their expectations.

EHAAT CEO (CQC Nominated Individual) Jane Gurney said, ‘I am so delighted with this result especially as the inspections found numerous examples of outstanding practice throughout the organisation. I would like to personally thank each team member across the entire charity, whatever their role, all of whom work so hard every day to uphold these high standards. I would like to also take this opportunity to thank our communities for supporting their local life-saving service, making it possible for us to remain operational and to keep saving lives in Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas”

Following on from the good news, the charity will continue to enhance the quality of the services it provides, as Ben Myer said, “As ever, the hard work doesn’t stop here. We will continue to strive for excellence for the patients and communities we care for, building on this result and maintaining our service, as an outstanding organisation with a national and international reputation for excellence.”