Foundation status for South Western Ambulance Service

The South Western Ambulance Service is to become an NHS foundation trust, managers say.

The service said it had confirmation of the status from the foundation trust independent regulator, Monitor.

It means the service, which covers Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, will have more freedom and financial flexibility.

It will still be part of the NHS, but will not be controlled by central government, the service said.

As well as being subject to inspections from Monitor, it will also be inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

The trust said it promised it would be more accountable to the people it served.

All NHS trusts are required to operate as foundation trusts by 2013/14.