Recurring concern
Unreliable equipment for ambulance transfer of patients
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Request correctionFirst reported 17 Apr 2014•Latest report 19 May 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures of equipment and dedicated equipment-compatibility controls used to lift, move, secure or transfer patients to or between ambulances, including equipment function, availability, suitability and confirmation that equipment fits the ambulances used.
Not included
- Excludes general patient moving and handling failures where ambulance-transfer equipment is not the identified unsafe condition.
- Excludes ambulance response, dispatch, hospital handover and clinical-treatment failures unrelated to the equipment used for patient transfer.
- Excludes generic equipment maintenance or stock deficiencies unless they directly affect equipment used for ambulance patient transfer.
- Excludes transfer-planning, staffing or communication failures where no ambulance-transfer equipment or compatibility deficiency is identified.
- Reports
- 3
- Individual concerns
- 4
- Date range
- 2014–2025
- Stated actions
- 4
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient equipment on private ambulances for patient transfer and care
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Use a pre-event vehicle checklist to standardise and document equipment preparation.
Stated by Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd -
Action
Develop and benchmark a clinical inventory standard against NHS specifications.
Stated by Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd -
Action
Distribute an event-readiness checklist covering equipment, clinical signs, contacts, escalation, hospital pre-alerts and documentation.
Stated by Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The vehicle had equipment considered appropriate for the authorised scope of care, despite not necessarily matching NHS ambulance specifications.
Stated by Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
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Concerns raised2
Failure of inflatable lifting-chair sections to inflate
Failure to use safety straps during patient transfer
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Repair the identified faulty Mangar Elk equipment.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Annual servicing and the Medical Devices Policy are considered sufficient to manage Mangar Elk faults.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
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Position
Testing Mangar Elk function during daily vehicle checks is considered impracticable because inflation and deflation would delay responses.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust -
Position
Safety for Mangar Elk use is considered adequately managed by attending ambulance staff, despite the equipment lacking safety straps.
Stated by East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Uncertainty about compatibility of transfer equipment with available ambulances
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026