Capital Air Ambulance has been praised by the UK's Care Quality Commission (CQC) for going above and beyond the requirements set out by law, following the completion of its annual inspection.

The aeromedical brand of Rigby Group's aviation division, Capital provides medical assistance and repatriation year-round from its UK bases at Birmingham and Exeter airports using a fleet of BE200s and Learjets.

The CQC report states: “The team at Capital works 24 hours a day, and where necessary across different time zones, to safely plan missions for patients. Family members of the patient are provided with direct telephone contact details in more complex cases. This provides the patient's family with reassurance and keeps it informed of the mission plans. We saw very detailed risk assessments of patients who had a number of complex needs. Many systems and processes within the service are bespoke to meet the needs of the service and the patients using it.”

In response, Capital founder and director Lisa Humphries says: “We are delighted with the inspection. We have invested heavily in equipment and staff training with the express intention of offering the best possible aeromedical services to customers in the UK and beyond, and to see that work formally recognised is a significant step forward.

“Our worldwide reach in high quality air ambulance service provision is based on a commitment to excellence, and we will not be resting on our laurels.”