RAMSS Ambulance Operations Centre

Updated 20 January 2023

RAMSS Ambulance Operations Centre is operated by RAMSS Ltd and is an independent ambulance service. The service’s head office is based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

This service first registered with CQC in July 2020. The service registered its current location in July 2022 and operates exclusively from this location.

RAMSS Ambulance Operations Centre provides the regulated activity:

• Transport services, triage and medical advice provide remotely

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of service, and these are set out in Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. RAMSS Ambulance Operations Centre provides services to patients attending sport or cultural events across the UK. The service also offers repatriation of patients under arrangements of an insurance policy, where the provider is not responsible for the clinical care and treatment of those patients. These types of arrangements are exempt by law from CQC regulation and were not inspected.

RAMSS Ambulance Operations Centre had transported 10 patients from an event to a hospital and had conducted 5 patient transport service (PTS) journeys in the 12 months preceding the inspection. These are activities which are regulated by CQC and were looked at as part of the inspection.

The service has 4 ambulances which are used as part of its regulated activity.

The service has had a registered manager since it first registered with CQC in 2020. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. They have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was the first time the service had been inspected.

Updated 20 January 2023

This was the first time the service had been inspected. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them. Staff collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
• Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services.

However:

• Staff did not always assess risks to patients and act on them.
• The service did not always keep good care records.

Updated 20 January 2023