North East Ambulance Service has been named as one of the top performing organisations for its work on equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Trust, which employs more than 3,000 people, has maintained its ‘gold status’ from 2021 and is one of only 13 organisations nationally to achieve this status in the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion assessment for 2022.

The assessment grades the progress the organisation has made across nine areas of the business, acknowledging the Trust’s efforts to engage more diverse employees and patients as well as making improvements to services and employment practices.

Helen Ray, Chief Executive at North East Ambulance Service, said: “Our workforce and communities are becoming more diverse and in response we must change and adapt as an organisation to ensure we embrace these changes and realise the benefits this brings.

"We work hard to ensure that we treat colleagues and patients with care, compassion and empathy and we ensure people can access our services, information and employment opportunities in a way that is accessible to their needs.

"We recognise that we still have work to do and we will continue to deliver improvements to our organisation culture to make NEAS and the north east the best place to live, work and grow."