Birmingham hospital suspends ambulance contract
17/02/2009

Birmingham hospital suspends ambulance contract over staff checks

A Birmingham hospital trust has said it is no longer using a private ambulance firm that has come under investigation for allegedly not carrying out criminal checks or proper training on its staff.

University Hospital Birmingham Trust, which runs Selly Oak and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, was using On Site Medical and Ambulance Service to transport patients from children to vulnerable pensioners from its premises.

The Oldbury-based ambulance firm, which has had its contract with West Midlands Ambulance Service suspended over the allegations last week, has sparked an inquiry over whether at least six of its ambulance technicians have had the necessary enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check and medical training to keep patients safe.

Fiona Alexander, communications director for University Hospital Birmingham Trust, said On Site Medical and Ambulance Service had been used 11 times last year.

"On Site were used on an ad-hoc basis 11 times from June 2008 to September 2008," said Ms Alexander.

"Since then the Trust has reviewed its services and now only uses West Midlands Ambulance Service and Ambuline for long-distance transport."

Ambulance workers from On Site Medical were contracted to work for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) since early December to provide extra support in "non-emergency journeys" from hospitals across the region.

Murray MacGregor, WMAS spokesman, said: "Following the results of the early investigation, the services of On Site Medical have been suspended.

On Site Medical and Ambulance Service declined to comment.