Archived: VKL Healthcare

Updated 14 November 2022

VKL Transport Services is operated by VKL Healthcare Ltd. The service has been registered to provide a regulated service since 2013. It is an independent ambulance service in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. The main service provided is patient transport services, specialising in the safe transportation of low, medium and high-risk patients with mental health conditions between other organisations or locations.

The service provides secure, non-secure and mobility transport services across the United Kingdom for both adults and children 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The types of transport provided include transfers from secure mental health services to prison or courts, transfers from mental health inpatient units to general acute settings for medical care, transport from patients’ home addresses to inpatient settings, and transfers for patients using community adult mental health services and learning disability services.

The service has previously been inspected, and the most recent inspection took place in 2018, which found that the service was meeting standards of quality and safety it was inspected against. The previous inspection was not rated and there were no breaches identified.

The service had a registered manager in post and was registered to carry out the following regulated activities:

• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
• Transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely

In the reporting period 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022, there were 2,374 patient transport journeys undertaken.

Information provided by the service in September 2022 reported that the service employed 60 staff, of which 10 were permanently employed; the remaining employed on zero-hour contracts.

The service had a fleet of 10 vehicles, including both high and low secure, marked and unmarked vehicles.

Updated 14 November 2022

This was the first rated inspection for VKL Transport Services. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them. Staff collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, and assessed patients’ food and drink requirements. The service met agreed response times. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

Updated 14 November 2022

This is the first time we have rated this service. We rated it as good overall.

We rated this service as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

Please refer to overall summary above.