OBS Medics Base

Updated 9 June 2022

OBS Medics Base is operated by OBS Medics Ltd. The service opened in April 2020. It is an independent ambulance service with headquarters located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

The service provides patient transport services and conveys patients to and from hospitals in the Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas. The service operates 12 hours a day, six days a week (Monday to Saturday). Between March 2021 and March 2022, the service provided 6150 patient transfers.

This is the second time we have inspected and rated this service. The current CQC registered manager has been in post since April 2020 and the service is currently registered for the following regulated activity:

• Transport, triage and medical advice provided remotely.

In December 2020, we conducted routine engagement with the service. As a result of engagement, several concerns were highlighted. In response to our findings, we issued urgent conditions to prevent the service from undertaking journeys conveying children.

In February 2021, we undertook a short notice announced inspection of the service to follow up on additional concerns. As a result of this inspection we issued the provider with requirement notices in relation to regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment and regulation 17 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Good governance.

On 30 March 2022 we carried out an unannounced inspection of the service in order to follow up previous concerns.

Updated 9 June 2022

Our rating of this service improved. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. Managers made sure staff were competent for their roles. Staff assessed risks to patients and acted on them. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• The service controlled infection risk by using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with the service policy.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity. They provided emotional support to patients.
• The service delivered care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback.
• Leaders supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients to improve services.

However:

• Managers used only a limited number of systems to monitor and improve the service’s performance.
• Managers did not monitor ongoing risks to the service.
• Mangers had not completed annual follow up DBS checks in line with the services policy.
• Managers did not have a formal strategy to improve the service and staff did not understand the service’s vision and values.

Updated 9 June 2022

Our rating of this service improved. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. Managers made sure staff were competent for their roles. Staff assessed risks to patients and acted on them. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.

• The service controlled infection risk by using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with the service policy.

• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity. They provided emotional support to patients.

• The service delivered care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback.

• Leaders supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients to improve services.

However:

• Managers used only a limited number of systems to monitor and improve the service’s performance.

• Managers did not monitor ongoing risks to the service.

• Mangers had not completed annual follow up DBS checks in line with the services policy.

• Managers did not have a formal strategy to improve the service and staff did not understand the service’s vision and values.