The Care Quality Commission
  • Ambulance service

Archived: Bristol Ambulance EMS

Jacwyn House, 1 Kings Park Avenue, St Phillips, Bristol, Avon, BS2 0TZ (0117) 972 9020

Provided and run by:
Lord Keith Pillinger and Mrs Jackie Pillinger

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

10 June 2014

During an inspection in response to concerns

The focus of the inspection was to answer five key questions; is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service, their relatives and the staff told us, what we observed and the records we looked at. If you want to see the evidence that supports our summary, please read the full report. This is a summary of what we found.

Is the service safe?

People had been cared for in vehicles that were safe and fit for purpose. Staff had been trained appropriately according to their role.

Is the service effective?

The feedback we received from the companies that commissioned the provider were all positive. The staff told us that it was a very good company to work for. The staff understood their roles and how that impacted on patients care.

Is the service caring?

Patients were supported by professional and trained staff.

Is the service responsive?

Patient needs were assessed and the provider's documentation confirmed this. The provider had specialist vehicles and crew for neonatal transfers and provided a 24 hour a day cover for these specialist teams.

Is the service well-led?

Staff told us they felt supported by the team leaders and management structure. Where concerns were raised, these were acted upon.

21 May 2013

During a routine inspection

Due to the transient nature of this service we were not able to speak with people who used the service. However, we did make contact with an NHS Ambulance Trust and patient transfer services at local hospitals that contract the ambulance services from Bristol Ambulance Service. We received positive feedback from the four services that we contacted.

Journeys were planned taking into account the needs and safety of the person.

Staff had received appropriate training to enable them to fulfil their roles and support the people who used the service. A robust recruitment process was in place.

The provider had an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people who used the service and others.

Vehicles were fit for purpose, systems were in place to ensure that they were maintained and appropriately equipped.

24 October 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was a follow up review to check on compliance with the actions set at our last inspection. We inspected the service in August 2012 where we judged that Bristol Ambulance Service were non compliant with outcome 12. This was because people could not be assured that the staff supporting them had had the appropriate recruitment checks completed prior to them commencing in employment. We judged that this had a moderate impact on people who use the service.

At this inspection we looked at recruitment information and spoke with the registered manager and three members of staff about the recruitment process to check on the changes made.

13, 14 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We did not have an opportunity to meet with people who used the service. However, we did make contact with hospitals and community services that contract the ambulance services from Bristol Ambulance Service. We received positive feedback from the four services that we contacted.

Staff we spoke with told us that the safety and comfort of the people they transported was their first priority. Systems for planning journeys were in place and the staff were trained.