A focused responsive inspection of Medisec Ambulance Service Limited was carried out on 29 March 2017. This was an unannounced inspection.

We previously carried out a comprehensive inspection of the service between 14 and 20 September and 6, 7 and 10 October 2016. Following this inspection, we served an urgent notice on Medisec Ambulance Service Limited, suspending their registration as a service provider. This was in respect of the regulated activity transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely from 12 October 2016 until 30 November 2016 at or from the location Medisec Ambulance Service Limited, Unit 1, Mount Pleasant Road, Southampton, SO14 0SP. The provider was required to demonstrate they were compliant with the identified regulations by 30 November 2016.

Our main findings were :

At the follow up inspection on 29 and 30 November 2016, we checked whether the provider had made the required improvements and found that the provider had developed robust recruitment processes. The provider had started governance processes, and planned to provide patient transport services within the restraints of the number of staff employed. The suspension of registration was removed on 30 November 2016.

At this focused responsive inspection on 29 March 2017, we checked on the recruitment processes and associated records. We found that that the improvements had been sustained following the removal of the suspension of registration of the provider on 30 November 2016. We found that the governance systems set up were in use and saw minutes of the governance meetings that had taken place. We inspected and saw that the workflow system for patient transport planning was robust and encrypted, it held information relating to the jobs, the teams assigned to the jobs and there was password protection of the system.

We do not currently have a legal duty to rate independent ambulance services but we highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve.

Please refer to previous inspection report for information on our key findings at the previous inspection and actions we have asked the provider to take.

Professor Sir Mike Richards

Chief Inspector of Hospitals

This focused inspection was carried out on 29 and 30 November 2016.

A comprehensive inspection of the service was carried out on 14 and 20 September 2016 and 6, 7 and 10 October 2016. This identified the provider was in breach of regulation 19 (Fit and Proper Persons Employed) and Schedule 3 of the Health and Care Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and regulation 17 (Good governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. There were inadequate recruitment checks on employees prior to commencement of employment and there were inadequate and ineffective systems for identifying, assessing and monitoring the safety and quality of the service.

Following the inspection we served an urgent notice on Medisec Ambulance Service Limited, suspending their registration as a service provider in respect of the regulated activity transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely from 12 October 2016 until 30 November 2016 at or from the location Medisec Ambulance Service Limited, Unit 1, Mount Pleasant Road, Southampton, SO14 0SP. The provider was required to demonstrate they were compliant with the identified regulations by 30 November 2016.

We do not currently have a legal duty to rate independent ambulance services but we highlight good practice and issues that service providers need to improve.

At the inspection on 29 and 30 November 2016 we checked whether the provider had made the required improvements and found:

• The provider followed robust recruitment processes to ensure all staff working in the service were of a good character, had the necessary skills, qualifications, competencies, and experience and were sufficiently healthy to carry out their role.

• The provider had developed a governance processes that included systems to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. The provider should ensure the new processes for monitoring the quality and safety of the services are fully implemented and followed.

• The provider had a plan to provide and develop their patient transport service within the restraints of the present number of staff employed.

Please refer to previous inspection report for information on our key findings at previous inspection and action we have asked the provider to take in relation to other aspects of the service.

Professor Sir Mike Richards

Chief Inspector of Hospitals