Home / Health / Ambulance Service Sees Major Rating Upgrade
Ambulance Service Sees Major Rating Upgrade
29 May
Summary
- Emergency and urgent care service rated 'good' by watchdog.
- Management of urgent and emergency care still needs improvement.
- Staff reported disconnect between leadership and frontline teams.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) has achieved a significant upgrade from the health watchdog, with its emergency and urgent care services, and emergency operations centre, now rated 'good'. This positive change, identified during inspections in September and November 2025, marks a notable improvement from previous ratings of 'requires improvement'.
Despite this progress, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) noted that the overall management of Secamb's urgent and emergency care service still requires attention. Inspectors found that frontline staff felt a disconnect with senior leadership and were not always included in decision-making processes.
Leaders at Secamb acknowledged that further work is necessary to strengthen the service and improve communication between management and frontline teams. The interim boss emphasized the positive impact of recent changes on patients and communities, reinforcing a commitment to building a more responsive and high-quality service.
Secamb provides ambulance services across a wide area, including Brighton & Hove, East and West Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and North East Hampshire. The trust is dedicated to building on its recent achievements to ensure staff have the resources needed to consistently deliver excellent patient care.
