1, 2 and 15 August 2017
During a routine inspection
Ambicorp LTD is operated by Ambicorp LTD. The service provides patient transport services.
We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out the announced part of the inspection on 1 and 2 August 2017, along with an unannounced visit to the service on 15 August 2017.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led?
Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
The main service provided by this service was patient transport services.
Services we do not rate
We regulate independent ambulance services but we do not currently have a legal duty to rate them. We highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve and take regulatory action as necessary.
We found the following areas of good practice:
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We observed staff followed infection prevention and control procedures to reduce the spread of infection. They kept vehicles visibly clean, tidy and well stocked.
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The system for servicing vehicles was effective. All vehicles had an up to date MOT, insurance and schedules were in place to monitor servicing dates.
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There were recruitment processes so all staff employed had the experience and competence required for their role. Appropriate pre-employment checks had been carried out.
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The service had a system for handling, managing and monitoring complaints and concerns.
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Feedback seen from patients and NHS trusts was overwhelmingly positive.
However, we also found the following issues that the service provider needs to improve:
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The service was not auditing infection control procedures and could therefore not assure themselves of their effectiveness.
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Staff were aware of safeguarding and had received training however, the safeguarding policy was not followed and we were not assured that the level of training received was relevant to the role. However, at the unannounced visit all staff had been booked onto training appropriate to their role.
Following this inspection, we told the provider that it should make some improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve.
Heidi Smoult
Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (Central Region), on behalf of the Chief Inspector of Hospitals