INDEPENDENT inspectors said infection control at one ambulance station run by Great Western Ambulance Station was not adequate and the service had failed to carry out appraisals on all its staff in the timescale required.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report after it visited GWAS’s headquarters in Chippenham, a number of ambulance stations and hospitals in December last year.

The CQC said GWAS met two essential standards but did not meet three others and said improvements were needed.

One of the standards not being met was for staff to be properly trained, supervised and have the chance to develop and improve their skills. The CQC said while staff were appropriately trained and supervised appraisal rates showed that only half of staff received an appraisal in the last 12 months.

GWAS said since the CQC inspection the rate for annual appraisals had risen to 70 per cent.

The CQC’s other two concerns related to a small ambulance station in the Bristol area, that has not been named.

Inspectors found the station unkempt and a member of staff told them that crews did not have time to clean or keep the garage tidy.

Clinical waste bags were overflowing and contained items that were not clinical waste.

On top of a storeroom was old and discarded equipment which presented a potential infection control hazard.

Managers at GWAS told the CQC they would take urgent action to address the issues which they agreed were unsatisfactory.

In addition a health and safety audit was not effective in ensuring that fire risk issues at the station were addressed in a timely manner.This has now been addressed by GWAS.

The standards which GWAS met were treating patients with respect and involving them in their care and patients received safe and appropriate care, treatment and support that met their needs.

The CQC said patients they spoke to who had used an emergency ambulance or a patient transport ambulance told them that they were generally satisfied with the quality of service they received.

Liam Williams, GWAS director of nursing, said: “Overall this is a very positive report that acknowledges the superb work done on a daily basis by ambulance service staff. In particular the positive reinforcement of the high standards of care provided is welcome, although there are always areas where we can focus on continuous improvement.

“The CQC identified three issues as minor concerns which we have taken extremely seriously. We addressed the concerns regarding the station immediately and have put steps in place to address the uptake of appraisals.