Local News · Wiltshire-wide
Ambulance service in Wiltshire rated good but highlights major staff stress concerns
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
The South Western Ambulance Service has received a positive rating from the Care Quality Commission, yet a new report reveals that over half of its staff report work-related stress.
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), which provides critical emergency response across Wiltshire, has been rated as 'good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following recent inspections. The watchdog noted significant improvements in the delivery of urgent and emergency care, as well as in the safety and leadership of the service.
However, the inspection report also highlighted significant concerns regarding the wellbeing of the workforce. Data revealed that more than 50 per cent of staff members reported feeling unwell due to work-related stress in 2025. Inspectors noted that leadership teams were not currently doing enough to provide sufficient support for staff or to adequately protect their mental health in what is a high-pressure environment.
Key Findings and Improvements
The CQC inspection, conducted between April and July, marks a turnaround for the trust, which had previously been flagged for needing improvement. Key areas where the service was upgraded to 'good' include:
Overall emergency and urgent care delivery.
Safety and effectiveness of care.
Management and leadership standards.
Inspectors highlighted that the service has notably improved its response times for stroke patients. The average time taken from receiving a 999 call to arrival at a hospital has been reduced to one hour and 41 minutes, a marked improvement from the two hours and 20 minutes recorded in 2021. Furthermore, the service is now answering 999 calls faster than the national average.
Concerns Over Staff Welfare
Despite the positive rating for clinical outcomes, the report indicates that the high demand placed on crews is taking a toll. During the inspection, some staff members reported having less than 15 minutes to recover between traumatic incidents before being dispatched to their next call. The CQC has underscored that more must be done to address the ongoing stress levels reported by the workforce.
Catherine Campbell, CQC deputy director of hospitals, secondary and specialist care for the South-West, acknowledged the improvements while noting the clear areas for further action. She stated: 'When we inspected South Western Ambulance Service, we found people were receiving safe and effective care across the board, with significant improvements in both urgent and emergency care and the patient transport service.' She added that the trust has been asked to submit a formal action plan to address the highlighted risks and performance gaps, particularly within its patient transport operations.
The trust, which covers a vast region including Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and beyond, serves millions of residents and visitors annually. It remains responsible for 24-hour emergency responses and, as the CQC noted, continues to perform well in preparing for major incidents alongside other emergency services.
Source: Salisbury Journal · View original