Ambulance service will stay in special measures

The ambulance service which covers Kent has been ordered to remain in special measures.

England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals has told SECamb (South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust) it must continue to make significant improvements to its services, following its latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

The Trust was first labelled as failing in September last year.

In the latest inspection, in May, the CQC said the Trust needs to make urgent improvements in a number of areas, including recording 999 calls.

It was also told to protect patients from risks associated with the unsafe use of medicines, make sure there are enough clinicians in each emergency operation centre and investigate incidents in a timely way.

But inspectors found the Trust had made some improvements since the May, 2016, inspection, particularly around reporting of incidents, and staffing levels during busy periods.

A new board was tackling the issues but further progress was still needed, it found.

The mental health street triage service was found to be outstanding, and the Hazardous Area Response Team also came in for praise.

Inspectors also said the NHS 111 helpline was good.

Staff generally were found to be compassionate, treating patients and callers with kindness and respect including those in men- tal health crisis.

But, although there was a reduction in bullying and harassment, there still remained concerns about the overall culture within the Trust, the report said.

Prof Ted Baker, CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Although we have seen some areas of improvement, South East Coast Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust has not yet made enough progress for me to recommend that it should leave special measures.

“I am concerned that the previous leadership had not fully addressed long-standing cultural issues and in particular the historical problems of bullying and harassment.

“While the problem is now being addressed there is still work to be done here and in the management of medicines.

“It is clear there have been deep rooted problems and the trust would now benefit from a period of stable management to address these issues.”