Archived: Plymouth Central Ambulance Service

Updated 15 December 2016

We carried out an unannounced focused inspection of Plymouth Central Ambulance Service based on concerns received about unsafe working practices which increased the risks to service users. This inspection was conducted on the 5th and 10th of May 2016.

A previous inspection was undertaken on 17 November 2014 following which a warning notice was issued. This was due to ineffective recruitment procedures to ensure employees had good character and were trained and competent to deliver care and treatment to people who used the service. During a follow-up inspection on 19 May 2015 the warning notice was lifted as we found recruitment procedures had improved and staff induction training was being provided. Inspectors at that time noted that although training had improved the provider needed to make improvements to the practical moving and handling training provided to staff.

Updated 15 December 2016

We inspected Plymouth Central Ambulance Service Limited on the 5th and 10th of May 2016. This was a focused inspection (focusing on key areas of the service) which we carried out in response to concerns received about the safe care and treatment of service users. We took action to cancel both the registered manager’s and provider’s registration following our inspection in May 2016. These legal proceedings have now concluded and we are able to report on the outcome of the actions we have taken. The provider and registered manager appealed against our decision to cancel their registration but withdrew their appeal following the sale of the business assets to another provider. The registration of the registered manager and the provider were cancelled on 5 December 2016.

Plymouth Central Ambulance Service provided patient transport and emergency response services. They had contracts with the NHS, local clinical commissioning group and provided services on request from organisations and individuals.

The provider operated services from a single location, an ambulance station. There were no other locations as part of this business.

CQC does not currently have the power to rate independent ambulance services.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The provider did not have processes or practices in place to assess, monitor and improve quality and safety. This included incident reports affecting the health and welfare of patients that were not always thoroughly investigated, and opportunities to raise safeguarding concerns were missed.

• There were no systems in place to document the use of oxygen, treatment given, consent decisions, mental capacity act, general observations, handover information, and medications.

• The majority of staff members did not have current mandatory training and were not supported appropriately, either by the provider’s induction or through ongoing training. Staff delivering training were not up-to-date with training themselves. This included emergency driving courses and blue light training.

• Managers did not have an understanding of risk and its management relating to the business. Managers did not have the necessary knowledge or capability to lead effectively. The registered manager was out of touch with what was happening on the front line and had very little understanding of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, how they were related to the business, or the consequences of not complying with them.

Professor Sir Mike Richards

Chief Inspector of Hospitals

Updated 11 August 2015