THE NORTH West Ambulance Service has received a good report from an independent health body.

The Care Quality Commission carried out a routine inspection to ensure the provider met Government standards of quality and safety.

The commission spoke to patients about their care experiences and visited NWAS’ Broughton Control Centre and also inspected five ambulance stations at Altham, Wigton, Penrith, Preston and Broughton.

Inspectors also observed ambulance staff arriving at Cumberland Infirmary and Royal Preston Infirmary.

The trust received the seal of approval for all five areas they were judged on including treating people with respect; providing care and treatment; caring for people and protecting them from harm; standards of staffing and quality of management.

The report shows that all standards were being met.

However, some of the areas have not been revisited since the trust registered with them in June 2010.

Patients reported that they were happy with the service they had received from the trust and two told the commission that they found the staff to be “friendly, professional, caring and fantastic in every way” and “listened to me and did everything they could to help and comfort me”.

According to the report, ambulance staff also told inspectors that, “training is good, we are equipped to do the job and every year there is clinical refresher training", and "there is good communication between staff and managers and good teamwork at both operational and clinical levels".

NWAS chief executive, Darren Hurrell, said despite a continuing increase in the number of 999 calls received, the Trust has performed well in the last 12 months, exceeding the Government’s 75 per cent standard for Category A 8 minute response times, with 76.7 per cent and the Category A 19 minute target of 95 per cent, with a 95.5 per cent response rate.