GREAT Western Ambulance Service has welcomed the findings of an independent inspection that found universal praise for staff from patients and fellow health professionals.

In December, inspectors from the Care Quality Commission spent three days at several GWAS premises, as well as hospital A&E and out-patient departments receiving patients from ambulances.

They carried out a wide-ranging review looking at a variety of the standards GWAS operates to.

Their findings, published yesterday in a Review Of Compliance, acknowledge the positive perception of ambulance service crews, while raising three minor concerns that GWAS was already taking steps to address.

GWAS chief executive Ken Wenman said: “Seeing the unanimously positive comments about our staff from patients and other healthcare organisations is very welcome, but not surprising.

“In the short time I have been with GWAS, I have seen the absolute commitment of all staff to doing their best for the many hundreds of patients we help on a daily basis.”

Minor concerns highlighted in the report included appraisals, with some staff indicating they had not received an appraisal in the last 12 months.

The trust’s rate for completion of annual appraisals stood at 52.6 per cent.

However, since the inspection, a message to all staff concerning appraisals was issued with payslips for January 2012 and there is now improved guidance information on appraisals for staff, and work is continuing to simplify appraisal paperwork.

As a result, the rate for annual appraisals has risen to 70.3 per cent.

Another minor concern was inadequate arrangements for the prevention and control of infection of one ambulance station and an ineffective audit system for ensuring fire risk issues identified at one ambulance station were addressed in a timely manner.

Liam Williams, the GWAS director of nursing and the trust lead for CQC registration, said: “Overall this is a positive report that acknowledges the superb work done on a daily basis by ambulance service staff.

“In particular the positive reinforcement of the high standards of care provided is welcome, although there are always areas where we can focus on continuous improvement.

“The CQC identified three issues as minor concerns which we have taken extremely seriously.

“We addressed the concerns regarding the station immediately and have put steps in place to address the uptake of appraisals.

“The safety and welfare of our patients and staff are at the heart of everything we do as an organisation.

These regular, rigorous CQC inspections are important safeguards in reassuring the public that we remain committed to providing the highest quality care to the people we serve.”