13 February 2013
Along with other MPs from the Eastern Region Waveney MP Peter Aldous this week met with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to discuss the performance of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).

The CQC provided an update on their work ahead of the publication of their latest inspection report which will be available in approximately six weeks time.

The role of the Care Quality Commission is to regulate health and adult social care providers to ensure that resources are used efficiently and improvements to the service are made following performance-based investigations.

The inspection conducted by the CQC in March 2012 focused on seven aspects of care and in October 2012, following ongoing concerns about the performance of the service, it requested information about delays in providing back-up responses in rural areas. This culminated in the most recent inspection which focussed on five aspects of care – care and welfare, safeguarding, infection control, management of medicines and staff support. It involved talking to the Trust, 23 patients and staff, and visiting A and E departments on 30 January at Addenbrookes, Norfolk and Norwich and Southend hospitals.

Mr Aldous commented:
“It was a helpful meeting where findings and opinions were expressed and exchanged. I look forward to examining the report when it is published in March to ascertain ways in which the service can be improved for those living in the Waveney area.”

MPs are due to meet the Ambulance Trust Board and frontline staff next month.