Concerns about private ambulance 'unsubstantiated'

A private ambulance service has been upgraded from inadequate to "good" by a care watchdog after making "significant improvements".

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) re-inspected Yormed Ambulance Station in Malton, North Yorkshire, in October and November last year.

The CQC also said 14 whistleblowing concerns it had received about the service since its previous inspection in November 2023 were "unsubstantiated".

"Everyone at Yormed Ambulance Station should be proud of their new rating and their efforts to improve the service," said Alan Stephenson, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the north.

Mr Stephenson said the service had made "significant improvements" and added: "Staff now provided safe care and treatment to people of all ages."

Stories of staff going "above and beyond" for patients included buying someone a TV for their room in a care home where they were living, he added.

Ambulance crews also bought food for people being discharged to "cold or empty" accommodation and helped people put electricity on their meter and cover the cost of essential groceries.

Yormed Ambulance Station is run by Yormed Ltd and has two emergency ambulances which can provide emergency and urgent care transfers with wheelchair, stretcher and specialist bariatric requirements.

The inspection in October and November was carried out in patient transport services to follow up on the progress of improvements they were told to make in November 2023.

The CQC also looked at emergency and urgent care. A spokesperson said all the required actions had been addressed and requirements had been met.

The York-based independent ambulance service also provides first aid and medical cover for events and festivals, air repatriation and first aid training.

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