South Central Ambulance Service publishes improvement plan following inadequate rating by watchdog

The Care Quality Commission published a heavily critical report on South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) following inspections in April and May.

 

The report said the crews needed more training and more regular defibrillator checks.

 

SCAS said the report had highlighted some “serious concerns, which we must, and will, fix as a matter of urgency”.

 

The trust, which covers Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, added that it took responsibility for the findings and was “working with colleagues across the trust and our partners to put things right”.

 

The report by the CQC in August found delays had contributed to the death of an elderly patient, while ambulances with patients on board endured waits of several hours outside hospitals.  In one case, a long delay in an ambulance arriving contributed to the death of a patient who had fallen and was trapped under their bed.

 

A spokesperson at the trust said “We have already taken swift action but we recognise there is more to do.  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 findings have been fixed.”

 

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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