A North East ambulance trust has issued a response after its rating was downgraded by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection last year.

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) NHS Foundation Trust has had its overall rating downgraded from 'good' to 'requires improvement' following an inspection by the CQC in September 2022.

The trust - which also saw the overall rating for emergency and urgent care dropped from 'good' to 'inadequate' - said providing the best possible care to their patients remains a top priority

Addressing the report, Helen Ray, NEAS chief executive, said the ambulance service, as well as the NHS, have faced "unprecedented pressures" over the last 12 months, and the trust has taken action to ensure long-term change.

Read more: Paul Calvert's warning over North East Ambulance Service review

She said: “Providing the best possible care to all our patients remains our top priority. We are all committed to making improvements until we and the CQC are confident that the concerns raised have been fully addressed

“In the six months since the first inspection, we have taken swift action and subsequently provided additional assurance to the CQC that the work will ensure effective systems are in place to keep patients safe.

"We recognise there is more to do and are committed to longer term change as well as a short-term response.

“I am pleased that throughout the report the dedication, care and commitment provided by all our staff is recognised and acknowledged by the CQC. Our teams continue to deliver the best care possible in these exceptional times."

Ms Ray said no ambulance service in the UK has achieved the performance standards set out nationally, but NEAS remains one of the country's best performers.

Read more: Plans show how Blackwell Parkland in Darlington will be redeveloped

"It is well documented that no ambulance service in the country is achieving national performance standards," she said.

"Despite that, NEAS remains one of the best performers for  response times, particularly to the highest-level life-threatening incidents.

“Critical to our success as we progress our actions is a clear investment in our workforce to deliver, both clinically and corporately. We are now beginning to see the results of the significant investment in resources made by commissioners in 2022.

“We also recognise that the key to sustainable improvement is service transformation and we welcome the opportunity to work with system partners to deliver this.”

She said the service is starting to see the results of significant investments, and cited reduced call response times, more staff, and a wider commitment to further growth in clinical staffing numbers as evidence of this.

The Northern Echo:

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North, said he was disappointed to see the NEAS overall rating remain at 'requires improvement”, but pleased by the hard work and dedication of responders, drivers and NEAS staff.

He said: “That the overall rating on the North East Ambulance Service remains as 'requires improvement' is disappointing, although I’m pleased to see it continues to be rated “good” when it comes to providing a caring and responsive service.

"This, as the Quality Care Commission itself acknowledges in its report, is testament to the hard work and dedication of responders, drivers and everyone who works at NEAS to ensure people in need are supported.

“There’s clearly some work to be done to improve overall but I know the service and its partners in NHS England are working hard to turn things around.

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to The Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here.

“What would help NEAS is a government committed to a proper plan of action when it comes to recruitment and retention, as well as funding.

"Our ambulance drivers and responders are stretched to capacity and doing the best they can to get treatment to people who need it.

"They’re being let down by a government who are unwilling to face the reality of the situation, accept responsibility for the strains seen across our health service, and provide the funding and resources the North East Ambulance Service needs.”