The service in charge of ambulances across Kent, Surrey and the south east has been slammed by the healthcare watchdog for failing patient safety and not meeting performance targets for response times.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has been told it must continue to make significant improvements to its services, following its latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors found that 999 calls were not being recorded properly, incidents went unreported and the dispatch system had two serious continuity incidents.

Chief Executive of the trust Daren Mochrie said: “While I am disappointed that not enough progress has been made for us to improve our overall rating, I am confident that progress is being made and that this will continue. I believe that the pace of improvement has picked up since the CQC visit in May 2017 but I am very aware, as is our senior team, that there remains a significant amount of work to be done.

“Our updated Improvement Plan focuses on the areas where we are determined to make major improvements in the months ahead. We are working with our local commissioners to ensure that we are funded appropriately and have the right resources to meet the demand we are facing.

“Right across the Trust, staff are working flat out to ensure the necessary improvements continue to be made and I am pleased that staff told inspectors that they feel more positive about the organisation and that we are heading in the right direction."

Staff were found to be compassionate, treating patients and callers with kindness and respect including those in mental health crisis.

Equipment overdue for servicing and "varied standards of cleanliness" were also found by inspectors, and while the 111 service (for non-life threatening cases) had improved since the last inspection, both the Emergency and Urgent Care and Emergency operations centres were rated as inadequate.

Inspectors said: "The trust was still not meeting performance targets for response times and had shown deterioration."

Response times had dropped from 71.6 per cent to 67 per cent for calls of a life threatening nature. The national target is 75 per cent.

The trust was rated as requiring improvement for responsiveness and effectiveness, as good for caring, but inadequate for safety and leadership.

Professor Edward Baker, chief inspector of hospitals, said: "On the basis of this inspection, I have recommended the trust remains in special measures."