East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust to ‘address cultural issues’ as it is ranked lowest in new league table
The region’s ambulance trust said it is ‘committed’ to addressing ‘cultural issues’ as it was ranked the lowest in the country on a new league table.
The NHS published the rankings for every organisation in England for the first time on Tuesday.
These included acute, non-acute and ambulance trusts.
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which covers Suffolk, was ranked the lowest among its peers in 10th position, with a score of 3.02.
By contrast, the top-ranked North West Ambulance Service had a score of 1.82.
In the rankings, the lower a trust scores, the better it is.
Neill Moloney, chief executive, said: “This assessment reflects the ongoing challenges we face — particularly around Category 2 response times and tackling long-standing cultural issues within the Trust.
“But it also demonstrates our huge desire and ambition to improve. We’re absolutely committed to serving our patients. Over the past year, we’ve made real progress, driving down response times across the region and improving patient care.
“I am committed to working with our colleagues, partners and patients to address our cultural issues openly and collaboratively, and deliver safe, high-quality care for our patients.”
The Department for Health and Social Care said each trust will be ranked quarterly on the standards of its services.
Those doing the best will be afforded greater freedoms while underperforming trusts will receive targeted support.
GMB, the trade union which has NHS members, said it was ‘not surprising’ the trust was ranked the lowest.
Donna Thomas, regional NHS organiser, said: “For the last 18 months, GMB has tried to talk to the directorate about the trust’s performance and challenge them on a range of issues including pregnancy discrimination, teams-based working, and cuts to frontline ambulances.
“GMB would like to commend the frontline staff, who despite the appalling culture inside EEAST, deliver for patients every day. They are not responsible for the poor performance of the Trust; this rests firmly with the people at the top.”
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Ipswich Hospital, was ranked marginally higher in 86th.
The former scored 2.51 while the latter had 2.48.
The top-ranked acute trust, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, scored 1.39.
The lowest was The Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in Kings Lynn, which scored 3.35.