An independent ambulance service who was providing services without being registered with the Care Quality Commission has been fined £4,000.
CQC issued a fixed penalty notice to Medicar European based at Ascot Barn, Ashford, in Kent. Inspectors found the provider had transported 28 patients between 24 July 2020 to 7 August 2020 despite not being registered with CQC.
It is an offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry out a regulated activity – in this case, provide the activity of transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely - without being registered with CQC.
Emma Boger, CQC’s head of registration, said:
“This is first time we have taken this action against an independent ambulance provider and I hope it sends a clear message to others that where we find providers operating outside of the law, we will always use our enforcement powers to protect people and hold them to account to stop poor and illegal practice.
“In this case the action that we were able to take was a Fixed Penalty Notice against Medicar European for carrying out the regulated activity of providing transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely without being registered to do so. This has resulted in a fine of £4000, which is the maximum amount allowed in law.”
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