CQC demands ambulance trust take action to improve

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Cheshire Ambulance that it must improve services following a recent review of compliance.

The review concludes that the provider is not meeting one or more essential standards.

Inspectors identified major concerns in the management and storage of medicines, record keeping and the provider’s monitoring of the quality of its services.

Inspectors also found the provider was using unsafe and unsuitable equipment and didn’t always have enough suitably trained staff.

The provider has submitted an action plan to show how it intends to become compliant. Inspectors will return to ensure improvements are made.

CQC regional director Sue McMillan said: "Private and charitable ambulance providers are new to regulation by the CQC.

"This means that we can now help ensure this group of providers, some of whom have worked in isolation in the past, are meeting and aware of required levels of safety.

"Finding and acting on issues such as those in this report will help ensure people using private and not-for-profit ambulance services are adequately protected from the risks of unsafe treatment.

"By law, providers of certain adult social care and health care services have a responsibility to make sure they are meeting essential standards of quality and safety.

"We have told Cheshire Ambulance where it needs to improve and our inspectors will follow up to ensure those improvements are made. If we find that the service does not make progress, then we will consider further action."

Words Worth Reading Ltd are experts in preparing organisations for CQC registration and compliance.