CQC inspection criticises bosses at South Central Ambulance Service

A damning report by the Care Quality Commission has described bosses at South Central Ambulance Service as “out of touch” and rated the service as inadequate following an inspection in April and May.

 

The report said delays contributed to the death of an elderly patient, while ambulances with patients on board endured waits of several hours outside hospitals.

 

The service, which covers Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, said it was “determined to make rapid improvements.”

 

The health watchdog has served it a warning notice requiring significant and immediate improvements following the report, which said the trust’s governance “undermined the quality of care it provided to people.”

 

In one notable case, a long delay in an ambulance arriving contributed to the death of a patient who had fallen and was trapped under their bed.  Another patient endured a wait of 14 hours on the floor after falling.

 

Deanna Westwood of CQC’s south network, said the inspection was undertaken because of concerns surrounding governance and training, but further issues were soon identified.

 

She went on to say “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.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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