We regulate any vehicle designed or modified to transport people who need treatment.
You need to determine if the vehicles you use are defined as transport services. If you need to register with CQC, when you apply we will need full details about the vehicle(s) you intend to use.
We are unable to process your application if:
- you do not have a vehicle you intend to use for the regulated activity, or
- documentary evidence of a lease for the vehicle you intend to use.
This is because the nature of the vehicles used determines the need to register.
Other activities we regulate
You may also need to register for other activities we regulate.
Treatment of disease, disease or injury
If you will also treat patients, you should register for the treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
Diagnostic and screening procedures
You may need to register for diagnostic and screening procedures. For example, if you carry out x-rays and other similar tasks.
There are exemptions and exclusions.
Surgical procedures
The treatment of disease, disorder or injury may include some treatments or procedures. For example, we include these procedures:
- emergency tracheotomy
- insertion of a chest drain
- intubation.
This means you may not need to register for surgical procedures as well. But you must state in your statement of purpose that you carry out such procedures.
As an expected part of your service, you might carry out procedures that need specialist surgical training and equipment. For example:
- thoracotomy that involves more than inserting a chest drain
- amputation.
So you must register for the surgical procedures activity.
But you will not be committing an offence if you:
- do not register for surgical procedures
- carry out emergency surgery that you would not normally have expected to carry out.
We will always apply the law in a proportionate manner.
Types of service you might provide
You might not need to register to carry out activities we regulate.
Patient transport
The type of vehicle you use determines whether you need to register. CQC regulates any vehicle designed or modified to transport people who need treatment.
You need to determine if the vehicles you use are defined as transport services.
Temporary events
Care on site
Temporary sporting and cultural events could involve providing any care and treatment on:
- an event site
- associated premises - such as a public road during a marathon.
This is not an activity we regulate. This exemption applies to anyone taking part in or spectating the event.
A registered professional providing treatment at a temporary event will be held to account in line with the requirements of their professional registration.
But if you carry out x-rays and other similar tasks on event sites, you must register for the diagnostic and screening procedures you carry on at the site.
Transport off site
If you transport people to hospital in an ambulance, you should register.
If you transport people away from an event, you may need to register. And if you treat those patients while in transit, you should also register for treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
Air ambulances
Some air ambulances are exempt from registration.
If an air ambulance charity does not provide any clinical care, it does not need to register for patient transport. We will regulate the treatment of disease, disorder or injury through the provider responsible for the care. For example, this could be an NHS ambulance trust.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates an air ambulance provider that only provides the vehicle and flight crew. CQC has a memorandum of understanding with the CAA.
If an air ambulance charity provides some of its own clinical staff (such as a doctor), they must register with CQC for both:
- treatment of disease, disorder or injury
- transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely
Medical repatriation
Any care given under the terms of a travel insurance policy is exempt from CQC registration. This type of work would constitute most medical repatriation work.
Transport of blood, tissue and organs
The transport of blood, tissues and organs is exempt from CQC regulation.
Transport of people who need treatment to special schools?
The type of vehicle you use determines whether you need to register. CQC regulates any vehicle designed or modified to transport people who need treatment.
You need to determine if the vehicles you use are defined as transport services.
You should register for the treatment of disease, disorder or injury if you provide treatment on the journey and your staff are either:
- registered healthcare professionals
- supervised by a registered healthcare professional.
For this activity, a healthcare professional is any of the following:
- medical practitioner
- dental practitioner, hygienist, nurse or technician
- orthodontic therapist
- nurse
- midwife
- biomedical or clinical scientist
- operating department practitioner
- paramedic
- radiographer.
I need to register
Find out what you need to do to register as a provider.