Preparing independent ambulance services for CQC registration
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has cast it's net wider in an attempt to provide a guaranteed level of joined-up care to users of the healthcare system. Better care services have been proven to exist where internal reporting, audit systems and documentary evidence are all carefully considered.
Due to this need for a publically transparent reporting process, providers of independent ambulance services who provide regulated activities, must be registered for inspection with the CQC by the 1 April 2011.
Examples of an independent ambulance service provider include:
- Independent providers of patient transport services (PTS) who operate privately or as contractors to NHS acute trusts.
- Operators of clinically staffed ambulances who work privately, or as contractors to NHS ambulance trusts.
- Charitable air ambulance services.
The key dates in the timetable for registration are as follows:
- From October 2010: Registration applications open
- From 1 April 2011: All independent ambulance providers must be registered
- April 2011 onwards: Compliance monitoring commences
What can organisations do now to prepare prior to registration? According to the CQC website; providers can be undergoing these checks in advance of registration:
- Consider what evidence they already hold and what you need to create
- Consider evidence on outcomes
So, in essence; if an organisation has been applying fundamental business practices to their working procedures, then no changes need to be made. The need to document progress, understand change and improve from lessons learnt is crucial to the success of any organisation, and should be an integral element to any successful business plan.
Creating a robust method of managing the documentary evidence needed for compliance is crucial, and perhaps the step most organisations will stumble over. To return to the CQC website, it is suggested that as part of the preparation period an organisation should be 'Checking their own internal reporting and auditing systems.' It is at this early stage that evidence needs to be structured for ease of management, investigation and reporting.
If the CQC have concerns over a provider not meeting the essential standards of quality and safety then they will act quickly, using their enforcement powers to close down any organisations who are not adequately adhering to the registration process.
Astute business managers will already be recording the evidence required to confidently enter into the CQC registration period. Reacting now to what could be a major hurdle in the operational abilities of any organisation may well be crucial.
James Bywood
For information about Qualsys contact Robert Oakley on +44 (0)114 282 3338.
Email robert.oakley@qualsys.co.uk
29th June 2010
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