The Care Quality Commission
  • Ambulance service

Archived: M&S Ambulance Services Limited

Unit 2 Westfield Farm, East Garston, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 7HD (01488) 638345

Provided and run by:
M&S Ambulance Service Limited

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

2 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We found the provider had been approved to support the South Central Ambulance Service where required and provided medical cover at large public events. We spoke with event organisers who praised their expertise and professionalism. One organiser told us, 'We changed to them because they are well trained and can cope with serious injuries.' An emergency planner of a music festival said, 'M & S are better than other private ambulances we have used because they can meet challenges other services can't and do so without impacting on the NHS ambulance service. Their staff are very good.'

Where a person lacked capacity staff told us they would seek best interest decisions from people who knew and understood the person. We saw this recorded in the patient care records, Staff told us they had received additional safeguarding training from the provider, which was confirmed by the certificates within their staff files.

The service had effective systems to reduce the risk and spread of infection and patients were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment.

We found that patient's were cared for by competent staff with suitable training and experience because the provider had a robust recruitment and selection policy.

The provider had an effective complaints system, although no complaints had been received since November 2011. We looked at this complaint and found that it had been satisfactorily resolved and that learning points had been addressed in staff training.