Report finds ambulance service has improved in measures taken to control infection

A REPORT into the ambulance service has found measures to prevent and control infections have improved.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) was inspected in August 2009 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and found to be in breach of infection prevention and control regulations.

An improvement notice was issued to EMAS and this was removed in December last year.

Now an independent external review, carried out by Dame Elizabeth Fradd, an independent health service adviser, has said: "There is demonstrable improvement in the management of infection prevention and control.

"The cleanliness of vehicles and storerooms were seen to be good."

Staff were also described as "enthusiastic, committed and caring".

However the report said that while storerooms were found to be clean they were cramped, with cardboard boxes – some containing new supplies – on the floor of most stations.

It also revealed more staff had been employed to clean vehicles since the CQC notice was issued, and that there was a greater level of scrutiny by the board and committees.

But the report found that staff were still confused about the work of committees, particularly the audit committee, and how to carry out an audit.

Managers raised workloads as a key issue and the report noted that while the quality of incident reports had now improved, these were not always investigated fully – partly due to pressure on staff.

A new investigations team has been appointed to try to address this.

The report found that hard copies of documents are stored in open boxes in locked storerooms, but confidentiality could be compromised because of the number of people who have access.

The review was commissioned by NHS East Midlands and NHS Derbyshire.

It contained a number of recommendations which included:

The management of key committees needs to be addressed so that actions are followed through and responsible individuals named.

Greater use of patient data should be implemented for decision making.

An up-to-date equipment list should be put in each ambulance.

The work done by the infection control team should be used as an example to others across the organisation.

Paul Phillips, EMAS chief executive, said "Dame Elizabeth makes suggestions for improvement and we will build upon these to deliver the best possible care for our patients.

"The report shows that whilst we had problems, we faced the challenges and have made significant progress, but there is still more for us to do."

"I believe that we are now well positioned to continue to improve."

The report was written with data collected between July and August and from visits between August and September.

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