London (South)

Noted (AI summary) NHS Bromley CCG is reviewing options for re-procuring services at Urgent Care Centres and will give due consideration to the coroner's concerns as part of the re-procurement process. Greenbrook Healthcare acknowledges the coroner's concern, but states it is mitigated against in their UCC. They detail measures taken to monitor the waiting room and point to a Serious Incident investigation that raised no concerns.

Noted (AI summary) The DHSC acknowledges the lack of a statutory process for recording consent to medication for voluntary mental health patients. They state that the Trust will implement additional safeguards, including pharmacist reviews of medications and capacity assessments, with concerns raised to the responsible clinician and clinical director. The CQC notes the concerns but states some relate to specific circumstances so they are unable to comment, but intends to follow through some areas of concern in more detail during an inspection later in the year.

Noted (AI summary) The Department of Health states that the classification of Pentobarbital is a matter for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), not the Department of Health, and advises redirecting the letter. They continually monitor trends in suicide data and take action to reduce access to means of suicide.

Noted (AI summary) The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) acknowledges the concerns around private ambulance providers and unregulated 'Ambulance Technicians'. AACE supports the College of Paramedics' efforts to protect the 'Ambulance Technician' title and works with statutory ambulance services to ensure quality assurance when contracting with private providers. The Department of Health is intending to consult later in 2016 on whether permanent companies that provide cover at temporary events should be regulated by the CQC. Officials will review the issues and proposals from Life Skills Medical UK and discuss them with the CQC and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives.