Isle of Wight Ambulance Service Named As Regional Champion At First NHS Excellence Awards

The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service has been named a regional champion at the inaugural NHS Excellence Awards for its work to improve survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

The service received recognition in the Improving Health Outcomes category for its Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival Improvement Programme, which has brought together healthcare providers, emergency services and community organisations to strengthen the chain of survival across the Island.

Over the past two years, more than 4,000 Islanders, including school pupils and employees, have received CPR and defibrillator training. The programme has also expanded the Community First Responder network and strengthened partnership working with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to help ensure earlier intervention during emergencies.

Clinical care has also been enhanced through additional training for Critical Care Paramedics, while a partnership with Hovertravel has improved access to specialist cardiac treatment in Portsmouth by enabling faster patient transfers.

The initiative has also increased the number of publicly accessible defibrillators available across the Island and introduced the Small Island, Big Heart support programme for cardiac arrest survivors and their families.

Victoria White, Director of Ambulance Service at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as a regional champion. This award is testament to the dedication of our teams, partners and community who together are working hard to improve the survival rate of people suffering cardiac arrest on the Isle of Wight."

Following the regional success, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service will now go forward as a finalist in the national NHS Excellence Awards, with the winners due to be announced in June.