The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Christopher Stapleton – FOI 2136

Extract from contract

1 VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

1.1 All vehicles will be compliant with CEN standard BS EN 1789:2000.

1.2 The Contractor is required to supply vehicles that are designed to carry patients with different health and mobility problems. These include stretcher cases, patients who require to be conveyed in the vehicle whilst remaining in their own wheelchairs, bariatric patients, High Dependency patients, SCBU patients and patients who may need either to be carried or are able to walk aided to or from the vehicle although able to be seated in the vehicle for the journey. The Contractor will provide the number and type of vehicles to deliver the indicative contract workload with due regard to mobility category mix and distance.

1.3 Vehicles used to transport Trust patients must be constructed to manufacturers' recommendations and meet the EC and UK legislation in terms of roadworthiness and also conform to current Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations. All vehicles must comply with the London Low Emissions Zone guidance. Exterior body panels must be of a uniform colour unless agreed by the Authorised Officer.

1.4 The Contractor shall provide all vehicles, equipment and disposable items necessary for all types of patient.

1.5 Vehicles must at all times be maintained in a clean, reliable and roadworthy condition. The Contractor will implement preventative maintenance programmes in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedule recommendations for all its vehicles. These programmes will be fully documented and available for inspection by the Trust at any reasonable time, without prior notice.

1.6 Contractor’s vehicles will comply with all relevant Road Traffic Act Legislation and be maintained to the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Cleaning schedules, materials and solutions will be agreed between the Contractor and the Trust and should be in accordance with the guidance provided in the National Specification for Cleanliness in the NHS: Ambulance Trusts issued in February 2009

th 1.7 Vehicle livery must comply with the Department of Health directive issued on 14 September 2005. Should there be a change in the Contractors livery for any reason the whole fleet shall be changed to the same livery within three months of the change.

1.8 The Contractor shall provide replacement vehicles at no extra cost to the Trust to ensure continuity of service should the need arise i.e. vehicle breakdown and/or vehicles undergoing servicing and repair.

1.9 Vehicles must be continuously taxed and insured for passenger liability as necessary to comply with legislation. 1.10 Seats must have arm rests, be high backed and otherwise be suitable for all types of patients. Seats must conform in all other ways to British Standards.

1.11 All seats must face forward and be fitted with restraining safety belts which must be used at all times unless the patient is exempt from wearing seat belts in a normal motor vehicle. Staff should request sight of exemption certificates and a record of this kept for future visits, the transport office should also be informed for their records. Child/baby safety restraints appropriate for the height/weight of the child conveyed must be available and fitted and used in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions. There must be facilities to lock, fasten or otherwise safely contain equipment such as wheelchairs, luggage or other equipment transferred with patients when the vehicle is mobile.

1.12 Vehicles must facilitate the safe loading and unloading of patients requiring stretcher and two people handling. Vehicles for one-person operation must allow easy access for patients with minor disabilities. Legroom must be adequate and cars should have at least four doors. A suitable number of ambulance vehicles must be fitted with either ramps, appropriate suspension or tail lifts to enable patients to travel in their own wheelchairs, heaters and power for equipment as determined by the type of patient being transported.

All vehicles agreed by the Trust must carry the following equipment as a minimum:

1.13.1 a ‘Middlesex’ carrying chair 1.13.2 Wheel chairs 1.13.3 First Aid box contents to be agreed between Contractor and Trust 1.13.4 clean blankets 1.13.5 clean towels 1.13.6 disposable wipes 1.13.7 hand towels 1.13.8 vomit bowls 1.13.9 fresh drinking water 1.13.10 clean disposable beakers 1.13.11 fire extinguisher (PSVS) 1.13.12 incontinence sheets 1.13.13 infection control spill kit 1.13.14 alcohol gel 1.13.15 disposable gloves, & aprons 1.13.16 urine bottles 1.13.17 clinical waste bags of the appropriate colour. 1.13.18 emergency O2 supply 1.13.19 bags for patient drugs

The quantity of each to reflect the capacity of the vehicle and the likely need. Equipment carried must also conform to the various requirements of the Road Traffic Act. All of the above equipment must be maintained so that it is clean and safe.

1.14 Some patients may travel with their own portable oxygen units, suitable means of safe storage will be available.

1.15 Any vehicle that will be conveying patients that require oxygen shall have sufficient supply provided by the Contractor in order to satisfy the level that the individual patient requires. The Contractor shall provide all necessary consumables and equipment to provide the oxygen to the patient e.g. masks, regulators, flow meters, etc. Should the Contractor not be able to provide regulator/flow meter, these shall be provided by the Trusts Transport Department at cost plus 50%.

1.16 All vehicles must have two-way ‘hands free’ communication, which must not be used on loud speaker, which links with the Control Centre.

1.17 All vehicles shall have satellite navigation and vehicle tracking systems.

1.18 All equipment shall undergo pre-planned maintenance ensuring continuous operation in a safe and functional manner and where necessary, replace equipment. The Contractor must bear the cost of equipment maintenance and replacement.

1.19 The Staff will carry out and record a daily pre-operational standard safety and cleanliness check and a 'vehicle check and defect' report kept and made available for inspection on demand by an authorised Officer.

1.20 The vehicle saloon must be kept at a comfortable temperature at all times, including air conditioning when appropriate.

1.21 Vehicle radios that are not used for communication purposes in undertaking the Service will not be used during patient transport journeys.

1.22 The Contractor must provide a crew appropriate to the category of patients being transported. Where a vehicle is double handed, the Contractor must ensure that one member of the crew travels in the saloon of the vehicle on every occasion when patients are on board.

1.23 Alcohol rub should be used by ambulance personnel for hand decontamination in between patient contact as per Standard Precautions and MRSA policy.

1.24 Ambulance chair or trolley should be cleaned with general purpose detergent in between patient use, as per Trust policy and best practice guidelines. However, any blood or body fluid spillage should be cleaned up wearing personal protective equipment, with appropriate chlorine releasing agent.