The Care Quality Commission
  • Ambulance service

Archived: Bond Air Services HQ

Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 6SS (01452) 716007

Provided and run by:
Bond Air Services Limited

All Inspections

20 June 2013

During a routine inspection

Due to the nature of the service, it was not possible to speak to people who have used the service. We did however, speak to staff and look at documents held by the provider. Decisions to transport people who used the service by helicopter were made jointly between the clinical staff and the pilot. The clinical staff were responsible for explaining and seeking consent from people prior to travel. If people who used the service did not want to travel by helicopter then their wishes were respected and an alternative method of transport provided where necessary. The provider was not responsible for providing the clinical care to people who used the service. Clinical care was provided by paramedics and doctors supplied by each ambulance service or charity that the provider supplied the helicopter too.

It is a requirement from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that clinical staff on the aircraft receive appropriate training. We saw evidence that staff had completed the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) course. We saw that the provider had a current air operator's certificate issued by the CAA which indicated they were compliant with CAA regulations. Before every flight, either the paramedics or the pilot carried out a safety briefing with any people who used the service and passengers. We looked at the incident log supplied by the provider. This showed us that all incidents were fully documented. The root cause investigated and any resulting actions addressed.