CQC finds improvements to South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust NHS 111 services The Care Quality Commission has found that South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has made further improvements to its NHS 111 services.
The trust provides a 24-hour telephone-based service to a population of 1.3 million people living in Dorset. Previously, the Trust provided NHS 111 services for two additional areas in Devon and Cornwall. The Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly service contract ended in 2017
During an inspection in December 2016 CQC told the trust it must make improvements to protect people’s safety. A follow-up inspection in May 2018 found there had been a considered and detailed plan of improvement.
As a result of the latest inspection, in May 2018, the service has now been rated Good for providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well- led services. Overall the service has now been rated as Good. A full report of the inspection has been published on our website.
Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice, said:
“People who call the NHS 111 service are entitled to quick and easy access to healthcare advice and information, or access to urgent attention when that's appropriate.
“This inspection saw some excellent examples of good practice and improvements that were now fully embedded into the running of the NHS 111 service.
"I am pleased that South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust has continued to build on the progress that we had identified in our previous inspections and have now achieved a Good rating.
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This inspection saw some excellent examples of good practice and improvements that were now fully embedded into the running of the NHS 111 service
Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice