THE South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) will be formally recognised in September, after it achieved Accredited Centre of Excellence (ACE) status in Emergency Medical Dispatch for a second time.

ACE status is bestowed by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, and this prestigious accreditation marks SWASFT as the 318th Emergency Medical Dispatch centre worldwide to achieve it. SWASFT will be recognised at the NAVIGATOR Conference in Bristol on September 21-22.

It recognises the Trust for its commitment to delivering the highest standards in emergency call handling and patient care.

William Lee, Deputy Director of Operations - Emergency Operations Centres at SWASFT, said: "This accreditation is a fantastic achievement for our Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) team.

"It reflects the dedication, professionalism, and compassion our Emergency Medical Dispatcher (999 Call Handler) team demonstrates every day in supporting patients in urgent and emergency situations.

"This work is supported and enabled by our EOC Quality Assurance Team and Emergency Dispatch Quality Specialists who ensure we hold ourselves to the highest standards of care, audit and quality improvement always.

"Being recognised for a further three years as a Centre of Excellence is something we are incredibly proud of, and it reinforces our ongoing commitment to delivering the very best care to the patients and communities we serve."

The accreditation status promotes excellence in public safety communications, encouraging organisations to meet 20 rigorous and measurable Points of Accreditation - a set of globally recognised best practices designed to drive quality, consistency, and continuous improvement.

ACE status is reserved for high-performing services that demonstrate a sustained commitment to excellence. It recognises organisations that foster a culture of pride, teamwork, and innovation, with a clear focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for their communities.

This re-accreditation follows SWASFT being first accredited in 2023, and each accreditation lasts for three years.