The Commission for Health Improvements says the service works well with the community and meets national targets.

It paid tribute to efforts aimed at improving responses to life threatening cases in rural areas.

Cumbria Ambulance Service is also praised for the way it meets patients individual needs, and for developing the role of paramedics so they can assess people with minor injuries in their own homes.

However, the report did raise concerns about some issues, saying there was no strategy for ensuring best practice, or for evaluation, measuring, and improving the work of the trust's staff.

It also expressed some concern about understanding clinical risk issues, in particular when the Trust changed from using diamorphine to morphine for pain relief.