The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has been rated “outstanding” following a recent inspection of its Helimed House headquarters in Norwich by the UK’s Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The inspection found that “everyone working at the charity’s Norwich base championed a culture of empathy, teamwork, and continuous improvement to give people the best possible care”.
The EAAA is an independent charity providing advanced critical care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to the most seriously ill and injured people in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk by air and road.
“Outstanding” is the highest possible rating awarded by the CQC. When carrying out the inspection, the regulator assessed the charity across a number of key areas. The EAAA’s Norwich base was rated “outstanding” for being effective, caring, responsive and well-led, and “good” for safety.
The CQC’s report said: “Staff showed exceptional compassion when treating people, and this was reflected in feedback from them and their families. They said staff listened to them, reassured them, and looked after them with kindness and respect.”
It added: “The service not only followed national guidance to provide people the best care but innovated and contributed to it. Helimed House was leading research in areas such as how to better diagnose bleeds on the brain and how to better manage cardiac arrests to save more lives.”
The full report can be read on the charity’s website here.
Victor Inyang, the EAAA’s Medical Director, said: “This ‘outstanding’ rating is a powerful reflection of the dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by every member of our team. Day in, day out, our crews and charity staff go above and beyond to deliver the highest standard of care to our patients.
“Patients are at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to providing the very best care when it matters most. We are incredibly proud to serve the people of East Anglia.
“As a charity, our ability to deliver this life-saving service relies on the generous support of our communities, and we are deeply grateful for the part they play in making this possible.
“We will now take time to reflect on the report in full – celebrating our strengths while continuing to identify opportunities to improve and build on this success.”
Image: Sarah Toon Photography
