A North East council leader has refused to criticise ambulance service bosses, despite a damning inspection report that raised concerns about patient safety.
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has been told it “requires improvement”, while its leadership and emergency care has this week been branded “inadequate”. Troubling findings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) included ambulance crews responding to emergencies without access to medications, such as morphine.
The watchdog also said that more than half of staff surveyed at NEAS "did not feel safe to report concerns without fear of what would happen as a result”, while inspectors also highlighted concerns that "leaders are not thoroughly investigating incidents and are making decisions based on limited information". After the damaging assessment was published on Wednesday, Newcastle City Council leader Nick Kemp was asked that night whether he still has confidence in NEAS’ leadership.
