- Ambulance service
Criticare UK Ambulance Service
Assessment report published 21 August 2026
Contents
Ratings - Emergency and urgent care
Our view of the service
There was minimal additional evidence relating to EUC due to low activity. Our main report findings and evidence can be found in the PTS report.
During the period April 2025 to March 2026, the provider completed 30 EUC journeys, representing approximately 1% of the provider's overall activity. The majority of activity was delivered through the Patient Transport Service (PTS), and many governance, workforce and quality assurance arrangements were shared across both service lines.
The provider delivered safe and effective EUC services through established governance arrangements, suitably trained staff and effective partnership working with NHS organisations. EUC activity primarily consisted of urgent and high-dependency transfers commissioned by local NHS trusts. Staff worked within their scope of practice and had access to the policies, procedures and support required to undertake patient transfers safely.
Where organisational systems and processes were shared across both services, the findings described in the PTS assessment also applied to EUC activity. This included governance, safeguarding, staffing, training, risk management, incident reporting and learning arrangements.
Inspection findings identified concerns relating to medicines storage and assurance arrangements. Leaders took prompt action to address these issues and provided evidence following the inspection that corrective actions had been completed.
People's experience of this service
The provider received limited feedback specific to EUC activity due to the low volume of journeys undertaken. However, patient feedback reviewed across the organisation was consistently positive and reflected the caring culture described within the Patient Transport Service assessment.
Patients described staff as professional, reassuring and respectful. Staff supported patients during transport, communicated effectively and adapted their approach to meet individual needs.