Inspectors want to hear what people think of Yorkshire Ambulance Service

England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, professor Sir Mike Richards, is inviting members of the public to give their views which will help determine what inspectors look at when they inspect the trust this month.

The trust is the third of England’s 10 ambulance service trusts to be inspected under radical changes which have been introduced by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Sir Mike said: “The new inspections are designed to provide us with a clear picture of the quality of the services, exposing poor or mediocre care as well as highlighting those trusts providing good and excellent care. Ambulance services are also responsible for helping to care for over 5 million patient transport service journeys each year for people who need help attending non emergency pre planned appointments.

“We need to make sure that ambulance services are safe, caring, responsive, effective and well led. This inspection will provide people with a clear picture of the quality of their local ambulance service, exposing poor or mediocre service if it exists as well as highlighting where the trust provides good and excellent services. If you have recently needed to call out an ambulance in emergency, or have experience of using the service – we would like to hear from you.”

Sir Mike announced last year that he would lead significantly larger inspection teams than before, headed up by clinical and other experts.

Inspectors will visit emergency operations centres where 999 calls are received, interviewing paramedics and other staff and talking to organisations that work closely with the trust such as police and fire services. CQC’s formal inspection will start on January 14. People can give their views to the inspection team online by visiting www.cqc.org.uk/syeyorkshireambulance; by phoning 03000 616161 or by writing to CQC, City Gate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4PA.