Air Ambulance Charity for Staffordshire rated outstanding

The air ambulance charity covering Staffordshire has been awarded outstanding by the CQC.

The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity hasn't been inspected previously, with short inspections taking place in August and September 2023.

In a report released today, the regulator has found:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well.

• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave patients pain relief when they needed it.

• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.

• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback.

CQC inspectors said the services "always met agreed response times" and feedback from people was continually positive.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is an independent health provider of emergency care and treatment through helicopter and rapid response car led emergency medical services. It covers the Midlands, including Staffordshire.

It serves a population of 6 million, and has been operating since 1991