Paramedics were praised by East Midlands Ambulance Trust

The survey into patients' experiences found 70% considered the service was excellent and another 25%thought it was very good.

It is the first Healthcare Commission survey on patients' experiences.

Paul St Clair the ambulance trust's general manager - said its success was down to the paramedics on the ground.

East Midlands generally scored well against the 30 other ambulance trusts surveyed by the commission.

The control centre was also singled out for praise by the 423 people who took part in the survey.

Nine out of 10 people in the region who phoned 999 said they were offered help before the ambulance arrived.