Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance service rated outstanding

Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance was commended for being safe, caring and well-led

An air ambulance service has been rated outstanding by inspectors for its safe, caring and well-led ways of working.

Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and Children's Air Ambulance was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Coventry Airport-based service's effectiveness and responsiveness were also rated as good, in what was its first rating.

WNAA is operated by The Air Ambulance Service.

Craig Howarth, CQC deputy director of operations in the Midlands, said all staff at the service should be "extremely proud" of the care they provide for people.

"We were impressed that the service was working with police and fire brigade colleagues to attend schools and educate the public about the risks of knife crime and speeding to encourage them to drive carefully and so they would be less likely to carry knives," he added.

'Working together well'

In a report published earlier inspectors, who visited last August, found staff at the air ambulance felt respected, supported and valued.

They also found there were comprehensive systems in place to keep people safe and the service controlled infection risk well, having kept equipment and vehicles visibly clean.

Support continued after incidents, the report added, with users having praised staff for treating them with dignity and compassion.

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance is operated by The Air Ambulance Service

"When we inspected Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Children's Air Ambulance, we found a service where leaders and staff were working together well to ensure people received the best possible care," said Mr Howarth.

"The service understood what people needed, both clinically, and emotionally during stressful and worrying times."

The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS), said the news followed an overall outstanding rating of its Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland service late last year.

TAAS chief executive officer Peta Wilkinson said she was "delighted" WNAA had achieved the "highest overall rating".

This "clearly validates our service's purpose" and recognised the high quality of emergency and urgent care delivered every day, she added.