SOUTH West Ambulance Trust now has greater flexibility over the way it is run after becoming an NHS Foundation Trust.

It was announced this week that the ambulance service will now be known as South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

All NHS Trust have to become foundation trusts by 2014 and the South Western Ambulance Service is the second service in the country to achieve it. South Western Ambulance Service covers South West counties including Dorset and the new organisation means that the trust will have greater flexibility and control over its finances. Trust chief executive, Ken Wenman, said: “Achieving NHS foundation status is a huge accomplishment. By focusing on quality and innovation we have been able to demonstrate our competencies to operate as an NHS foundation trust. Our employees are a credit to us and deserve a huge amount of recognition.”

The ambulance service will remain part of the NHS but not subject to government control or subject to performance management by strategic health authorities. They are subject to Healthcare Commission inspections and overseen by independent regulator Monitor.

Trust chairman, Heather Strawbridge, said: “I am delighted that Monitor has approved the service to operate as an NHS Foundation Trust. This has only been achieved through the hard work and dedication of our workforce led by the board and I would like to convey my sincere thanks to everyone for their commitment to providing the highest standards of patient care.”