Archived: E-Zec Medical - Dorset

Updated 1 June 2021

We carried out a focused inspection of E-Zec Medical- Dorset following concerns expressed to us and issues following inspection of the provider at another location. As this was a focused inspection, we only inspected parts of our key questions: safe and well-led. We did not inspect effective, caring and responsive. Due to the narrow focus of this inspection, we did not rate this service at this inspection.

E-Zec Medical Transport Services Limited is a family run independent private ambulance company set up in 1998 to provide patient transport services. E-Zec Medical in Dorset provides a patient transport service to patients who are registered with a GP in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole and who meet the eligibility criteria, agreed with the commissioners. Throughout this report we will refer to the services provided in Dorset as ‘E-Zec’. This location is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely.
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

E-Zec has one depot in Bournemouth but rents parking spaces at the local acute trusts it serves. The CQC registered location is at the Dominion Centre, Bournemouth. The E-Zec fleet consists of 62 vehicles comprising of cars and transport ambulances including two vehicles on loan from another location.

The location has a registered manager in post since 2020. Registered managers have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated regulations about how the service is run.

The service employed 157 members of staff, which included five paramedics, ambulance care assistants, management team and administration staff. Between 1 March 2020 and 31 March 2021, the location provided 101,713 patient journeys.

The previous inspection of this service was October 2016. We had no legal duty to rate independent ambulance services at that time.

The service had 24 hours’ notice of our visit, to ensure staff would be available to give us access to the site and observe routine activity. Before the inspection, we reviewed information we had about the location and intelligence we had received.

There were no special reviews or investigations of the service ongoing by the CQC at any time during the 12 months prior to the inspection.

Updated 1 June 2021

We did not rate the service at this inspection.

We found:

• The service did not always store medicines and oxygen cylinders safely.
• Managers processes for monitoring the service were not always effective. The system to confirm staff were completing the checks accurately was not working effectively and was not consistently acted on. Therefore, risks and concerns were not always identified, and mitigating actions could not be implemented to ensure improvement.
• The recruitment process did not ensure that safety checks about new staff were used to protect patients.

However:

• The service controlled infection risk well. Staff used equipment and control measures to protect patients, themselves and others from infection. They kept equipment, vehicles and premises visibly clean. There were good cleaning regimes and personal protective equipment used effectively. The service used systems and processes to safely make the decision to treat, administer and record medicines. Staff completed and updated risk assessments for each patient and removed or minimised risks. Staff identified and quickly acted upon patients at risk of deterioration. Risk assessment started at booking and continued throughout the patient journey.
• Local leaders had the skills and abilities to run the service. They understood and managed the priorities and issues the service faced. They were visible and approachable to patients and staff. They supported staff to develop their skills and take on more senior roles.
• Staff told us they felt respected, supported and valued. Staff were focused on the needs of patients receiving care and clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with local acute trusts to plan and manage services.

Updated 1 June 2021