RESIDENTS' views on ambulances services are being sought by inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust which covers Dorset as well as other counties as west as far as the Isles of Scilly.

Responses will be used by the commission to determine what it will look at in detail when the formal inspection begins in June.

The Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said: "Last year, NHS ambulance services received over nine million 999 calls resulting in the majority of patients being taken to an emergency department or directly admitted to a specialist department such as a stroke or coronary unit.

"At the same time nearly two million people were able to be treated at home thanks to the skills of ambulance staff.

"Ambulance services are also responsible for helping to care for over five million patient transport service journeys each year for people who need help attending non- emergency pre planned appointments.

"We need to make sure that ambulance services are safe, caring, responsive, effective and well led.

"This inspection will provide people with a clear picture of the quality of their local ambulance service, exposing poor or mediocre service if it exists as well as highlighting where the trust provides good and excellent services.

"If you have recently needed to call out an ambulance in emergency, or have experience of using the service – we would like to hear from you. This is your opportunity to tell my team what you think, and make a difference to NHS services in the area."

The Trust serves a total of 5.3 million people with an operational area stretching from Dorset to Cornwall and as far north as Gloucestershire.

Residents planning to contact the CQC should do so by the end of May.

Specified topics include how calls are handled, how people are treated by ambulance staff and the out-of-hours service, and possible improvements.

To comment call 03000 61 61 61, email enquiries@cqc.org.uk or visit www.cqc.org.uk/syesecoastamb.