The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated a Slough based independent ambulance service outstanding, following an inspection undertaken in September.
Polaris Medical Services Limited Registered Office is operated by Polaris Medical Services Limited. The service has seven satellite ambulance stations and one medical response post.
Following the inspection, the service was rated as outstanding. CQC also rated it outstanding for being safe, effective, caring and well-led. It was rated good for being responsive to people’s needs.
Carolyn Jenkinson, CQC head of hospital inspection, said:
“We found that Polaris Medical Services Limited Registered Office was going above and beyond what we would expect to ensure people receive safe, effective care and treatment.
“This meant the service was delivering exceptional outcomes for people and saving lives.
“Behind this success was excellent development and implementation of policies and processes and use of technology, so that the service was resilient to challenges and responsive to the needs of people using its services.
“Being rated outstanding by CQC is the result of considerable hard work, so I congratulate everyone at the service who achieved this high standard for the people they serve.”
The inspection found many examples of outstanding practice, including:
- The service used innovative advances in technology such as QR codes to achieve a better oversight of safeguarding referrals and to make it easier for service users to give feedback
- Infection risk was controlled well
- Risks were anticipated and well-managed, and safety was recognised as being everyone’s responsibility. Staff also identified and quickly acted upon patients at risk of deterioration
- The service promoted the organisation to ensure they employed enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep patients safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment.
The service had an employee app which promoted communication and teamwork, keeping staff members in touch, and allowing easy access to necessary policies and updated guidelines.
- The provider placed staff development as a priority. Staff were supported to professionally develop and promoted within the service. Training was delivered in the Polaris Academy. The Academy offered qualifications which were accredited with several education organisations, including Birmingham University. This promoted with several success stories where staff had started as “make ready” staff and had been encouraged and supported to train and qualify as paramedics