Issue - meetings

Presentation by Thames Ambulance Services Ltd regarding provision of non-emergency hospital transport across the district.

The Chairman again welcomed Andy Hill, Operational Manager from Thames Ambulance Services Ltd (TASL) and invited him to address the Committee. Members heard that there had been several concerns highlighted, most recently through a CQC report, however there had been significant steps taken to improve the service and address the concerns raised. Examples of this included amending the shift rotas to maximise the use of staff resources and also improving the computer software used to manage the daily workload.

It was explained that the control centre had been relocated from its city centre location to one on the peripheries of the city. The importance of a suitably located and resourced control centre was emphasised as this would be the point from where all other operations were managed. There had also been an increased focus on training and development with rotas arranged to help manage absence due to training requirements and it was highlighted that the service was working proactively to resolve those issues which had been identified by the CQC report.

Questions from Members had focussed on three main areas – reasons for difficulties within the service and how to improve performance, staff wellbeing including working hours and training requirements, and the concerns around cleanliness of work bases and vehicles. The Operational Manager for TASL explained that there were several pressures on the service that were out of their control, such as mis-information provided by the acute care trusts when requesting transport, the need to transport patients not only out of the area but to anywhere in the country and geographical issues whereby the area covered is mainly rural with a lack of motorway network.

The Committee heard that, as well as the rota alterations to enable staff to attend development sessions, there had been a concerted effort to provide training with regards to paediatric and bariatric transport. All staff were now trained with regards to transporting children and one in three staff were trained for bariatric patients. This was in line with CQC recommendations. It was also emphasised that, although the service did not transport patients who were subject to any Section of the Mental Health Act, all staff had received increased training in mental health awareness and were kept informed of the relevant pathways both through the induction training and regular refresher sessions.

In addition to the improved training, there had also been significant work undertaken in relation to the rota system. It was highlighted that there was not considered to be a staff shortage, however it had been necessary to re-align staff hours with fleet availability and peak transport hours, whilst also reducing overtime hours and ensuring allocated break times were adhered to as far as possible. It was explained that the updated rota system had proved a positive improvement, with breaks and driving hours being much more closely monitored and protected as far as possible. The nature of the work, although not an emergency service, was still time critical and it was acknowledged there would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75