North East Ambulance Service recognised nationally for creating a more inclusive workplace and improving access to patient care

The Trust was also ranked sixth overall nationally, fifth in the public sector and fourth in the health sector among organisations taking part in the assessment.

The independent benchmark examines how organisations promote equality, diversity and inclusion through leadership, culture, workforce practices and the services they provide.

The Gold award recognises the progress NEAS has made in supporting colleagues from all backgrounds while improving how patients access and experience its services.

Over recent years, the Trust has strengthened support for colleagues experiencing hate and harassment, improved reasonable adjustments for disabled staff, expanded staff networks and increased work with communities who are underrepresented in the workforce.

This work has also helped improve services for patients, including making information and communications more accessible, strengthening engagement with local communities and using patient feedback to better understand and address health inequalities.

The assessment highlighted NEAS's commitment to listening to the experiences of colleagues, patients and local communities and using those insights, alongside workforce and patient data, to identify inequalities and drive improvement.

While achieving Gold is an important milestone, the Trust recognises there is more work to do to ensure everyone receives fair access to services and every colleague feels valued, respected and able to thrive at work.

The findings from the benchmark will help shape NEAS's new Equality Plan for 2027-31, alongside feedback from staff, patients and communities across the North East.

Kevin Scollay, chief executive, said: "We're incredibly proud to have achieved Gold, but what matters most is what sits behind the award."

"This recognition reflects the work our colleagues are doing every day to create a workplace where people feel respected, valued and able to be themselves, while also making sure our services meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve."

"For patients, equality and inclusion can mean being able to access information in the right format, having confidence that individual needs will be understood, or feeling that their voice is heard. For staff, it means having opportunities to succeed and feeling supported to bring their whole selves to work."

"The benchmark shows we're making progress, but it also highlights where we need to do more. We'll continue listening to colleagues, patients and communities so that we can keep improving and reduce inequalities wherever we find them."

Karen O'Brien, director of people, added: "This award belongs to colleagues across NEAS who are helping to build a culture where inclusion matters and where everyone has a role to play in creating a fair and respectful workplace."

"What makes the TIDE assessment valuable is that it doesn't simply measure policies. It helps us understand whether we're creating meaningful change for people."

"We've made progress in areas such as supporting disabled colleagues, tackling hate and harassment, developing our staff networks and improving accessibility for patients, but we know there is still more to do."

"We'll use the findings, alongside what colleagues, patients and communities tell us, to shape our new Equality Plan and ensure our efforts continue to make a real difference to people's experiences."