Ambulance service rated inadequate
SCAS NHS trust issued with warning notice by CQC
THE South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation has been rated inadequate following a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.
Inspectors found that safeguarding wasn’t given enough priority, concerns about student paramedics weren’t addressed by senior staff members and, at times, ambulances with patients on board were having to wait outside emergency departments for multiple hours.
The inspection identified some positive things, such as patients being treated with kindness and compassion, instances of staff going the extra mile to meet the needs of patients and their families and numerous examples of innovative practices that supported people getting the right care, in the right place.
Director of CQC’s South network Denna Westwood said: “We initially carried out this inspection of South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in response to concerns about the quality of the trust’s governance and training.
“However, as the inspection progressed, we identified further issues – particularly around shared learning from serious incidents and allegations against staff not being appropriately addressed.
“We also found safeguarding wasn’t being given the priority it deserved, which is something we had already identified to the trust in November 2021.
“As a result of our concerns, we have issued the trust with a warning notice so it’s clear about the areas it immediately needs to address to ensure people’s safety.
“While staff were doing their very best to provide safe care to patients and support to each other, leaders sometimes appeared out of touch and were not fully sighted on issues that impacted the overall effectiveness of the care they were providing.
“Staff described a dismissive attitude from trust leaders when they raised concerns and also told us people who raised concerns were treated badly as a result, and it was evident that the trust did not adhere to its own policy for whistle-blowers.
“I want to thank the staff who spoke up and praise them for being brave enough to come forward.
“Speaking up in these circumstances is not easy, but it is important that it happens because it can support safer and more effective patient care and treatment.
“We will continue to monitor the trust closely to ensure people’s safety while they are making the improvements we have told them to.
“If at any stage we find the trust’s patients are at immediate risk of harm as a result of unsafe care, we will not hesitate to take immediate further action.”
In response to the inadequate rating, the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation chief executive Will Hancock said: “The CQC has highlighted some serious concerns which we must, and will, fix as a matter of urgency.
“I want to reassure everyone that we have already taken swift action, but I recognise wehavemoretodo.
“Providing the best possible care to all our patients remains our top priority.
“We have an extensive improvement plan and we are committed to making things better.
“We will keep focused on putting things right until we and the CQC are confident all the concerns have been fixed.
“It is vital that every member of our team can raise concerns with the confidence they will be dealt with quickly and effectively.
“We are also working with our partners across the NHS to manage the on-going pressures so we can improve response times and hospital handover times.”