Updated 18 June 2025
Date of assessment 24 April 2025.
We carried out a responsive assessment of non-emergency patient transport service provided by F.A.S.T. Ambulance service. During this assessment we reviewed areas of the safe, effective, caring and well led key questions. This was in response to concerns which had been raised and to review improvement actions since the last inspection in 2019. F.A.S.T. Ambulance Services provides non-emergency transport for patients to and from hospital for reasons of discharge and for appointments. They also provide first aid support at events such as motor racing, horse trials and music festivals. However, the CQC do not have powers to regulate this part of the service.
The overall rating for this service remains good.
Staff, managers and leaders of the service demonstrated a common aim of providing good care and a positive experience for patients who used the patient transport service. Staff were proud to work for the service, were trained for their roles, found their managers approachable and had experienced good supervision and support. Managers used improved systems to monitor outcomes for. Risks were assessed and mitigated. Staff reported incidents and managers took action. However, staff did not always receive feedback on progress of actions. Staff and managers worked in partnership with people who commissioned the service using communication channels to provide a smooth handover and safe journey for patients.
The service was previously in breach of the legal regulations in relation to staffing, governance and safe care and treatment. We found improvements had been made in respect of all of these breaches of regulation at this assessment and the service was no longer in breach of these regulations.