Medrescue Headquarters

Independent Ambulance · South East

Overall Rating
Requires Improvement Last inspected 22 November 2022
Domain Ratings
Safe
Requires Improvement
Effective
Good
Caring
Good
Responsive
Good
Well-led
Requires Improvement

View Full CQC Report

6 must-do actions
5 should-do actions

Must-Do Actions (6)

Legal requirements based on regulation breaches identified during inspection.

Must Do
Safe
The servicemustensurethatvehiclecleaning,includingdeepcleaning,takeplaceinlinewithpolicy.Andthat systemsareinplacetocontrolinfectionpreventionandcontrolaremonitoredappropriatelytoidentifyareasof improvement.
Regulation 12(1)
The service did not always control infection risk well. We saw that equipment, vehicles and the premises were not visibly clean. The service used an external contractor to complete deep cleaning on the vehicle, however in 2 vehicles we saw that the last deep clean had not been performed and …
Must Do
Safe
Theservicemustensurerefrigeratortemperaturesaremonitoredeffectivelyandthatmedicinesarebeingstoredat themanufacturer’srecommendedtemperature.
Regulation 12(1)
The temperature of the medicine’s refrigerator was not monitored. During the inspection we found the thermometer used to monitor the refrigerator temperature was not working. Fridge temperature records were not completed daily in line with policy.
Must Do
Safe
TheservicemustensurePatientGroupDirectionsareauthorisedcorrectlyandeasilyavailabletostaffwhileworking fortheservice.
Regulation 12(1)
Patient group directions (PGDs) were not always in place or appropriately authorised to be used by staff members to treat people. Staff did not have access to the appropriate national policies when administering medicines.
Must Do
Safe
Theservicemustensurethatsystemsinplacetomonitormedicinesprovideeffectiveoversight.
Regulation 12(1)
There were limited audits for medicines. There were no records to evidence what was audited and the outcome of the audits.
Must Do
Well-led
Theservicemustensureallstaffareabletoaccesselectronicfilesandsystemsrelevanttotheirrole,andthatfiles containallinformationspecifiedwithintherelevantpolicies.
Regulation 17(1)
Staff could not always access information when they required it. Not all service policies were available on the staff portal, for example infection prevention and control and clinical policies such as patient group directives. Some information was not easily accessible at the time of inspection.
Must Do
Well-led
TheservicemustensurethatitfollowscorrectprocesswhensubmittingstatutorynotificationstotheCQCunder theirresponsibilityasaregisteredprovider.
Regulation 18(1)
The understanding of completing safeguarding notifications to the CQC was not well established. We saw safeguarding referrals had been completed to the local authority but not reported to the CQC.

Should-Do Actions (5)

Recommended improvements to enhance service quality.

Should Do
Responsive
Theserviceshouldensurethatadditionalaidsareavailableinallvehiclestosupportforpatientswhohave additionalcommunicationneeds.
Regulation 9(1)
Should Do
Safe
Theserviceshouldensureinfection,preventionandcontrolauditsmonitorhandhygienepracticetoensureleaders areassuredthatstaffarefollowingbestpractice.
Regulation 12(1)
Should Do
Safe
Theserviceshouldensureitcorrectlylabelssharps’binswhentheyareinuseandthatthereiseffectiveoversightto monitorthis.
Regulation 15(1)
Should Do
Well-led
Theserviceshouldensureithaseffectiveoversightforthelicensingofcontrolleddrugsandthatapplicationsto renewaremadeinatimelymanner.
Regulation 17(1)
Should Do
Safe
Theprovidershouldconsidertheprocessusedtoreceiveandactonmedicinesalerts.
Location Details
CQC ID: 1-10969473486
Local Authority: West Berkshire
Region: South East
Inspection Report
Type: Comprehensive inspection
Date: 22 November 2022
Rating: Requires Improvement
Actions: 6 must-do , 5 should-do
AI-extracted 17 Feb 2026