PATIENTS have given the South Western Ambulance Service a resounding vote of confidence in a new survey.

The trust rated one of the country’s best in the Care Quality Commission’s report, which covered non-urgent or non-life-threatening category C calls to England’s 11 ambulance trusts in July last year. More than 90 per cent of patients found their ambulance control room operator and the paramedic who attended them reassuring, while 97 per cent felt they were treated with respect and dignity.

Ken Wenman, the trust’s chief executive, said: “The outcome of the survey is excellent and acknowledges the hard work of the trust’s highly skilled, professional clinicians and control staff who provide a first-rate service for patients.”

Almost 4,000 people returned questionnaires.