Gama Aviation

Updated 3 April 2023

Based at Bournemouth International Airport, Gama Aviation transfers members of the general population of the Channel Islands who require medical treatment in an NHS hospital from the Channel Islands to the UK mainland. The service employs 5 full time members of staff and 59 doctors, nurses and paramedics on zero hours contracts. The service has 3 fixed wing aeroplanes and 2 land ambulances.

The regulated activities provided at this location were:

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

The service had a registered manager who had been in post since August 2021.

This is the first time we inspected this service.

Updated 3 April 2023

This is the first time we rated this location. 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. They managed medicines well. 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 gave patients pain relief when they needed it. The service mostly met agreed response times. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and mostly made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and took account of their individual needs. 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 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.

However:

• The service could not be assured that all staff had completed their mandatory training.
• The service did not always follow safer recruitment practices.
• Policies were not always reviewed in line with the services own timelines.

Updated 3 April 2023