In a recent Reading annual health check by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), South Central Ambulance Service was rated as weak for its quality of services and good in its quality of financial management.
The Reading Council’s Housing, Health and Community Care scrutiny panel has called representatives from the trust to its meeting on Tuesday, December 8th, to report on its performance.
The meeting will take place at the Civic Centre and begin at 6.30pm.
Trust representatives are due to explain to the panel that the organisation is still on course to meet its two key targets in responding to emergencies within time.
This is despite performance in the summer being tainted by staff sickness due to the flu pandemic, and a significant increase in the number of emergency calls received at their call centre. The panel will also hear how the ambulance service is due to be further improved over the coming year.
Daisy Benson, Chair of the Reading Council’s housing, health and Community Care scrutiny panel, said: "The ambulance service is a key emergency service that many individuals and families rely on in Reading, so, the weaknesses that were identified by inspectors recently are a real concern.
"It is a vitally important function of the health scrutiny panel that local health bodies are regularly held to account for the services they provide.
"At this public meeting, the panel will be asking searching questions of the Trust’s representatives and looking for reassurance that action is being taken to ensure Reading residents receive a better service in future. Members of the public with particular concerns about the service, are welcome to contact the Council’s committee services team or myself prior to the meeting."
Reading Borough Council
