Recurring concern
Unreliable equipment for ambulance transfer of patients
- Reports that mention this concern
- 3
- Times this concern has been raised
- 4
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 4
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.
What is 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.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Reports and published responses 3 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
-
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.
Linked response
- Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
-
Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
Use a pre-event vehicle checklist to standardise and document equipment preparation.
-
Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
Develop and benchmark a clinical inventory standard against NHS specifications.
-
Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
Distribute an event-readiness checklist covering equipment, clinical signs, contacts, escalation, hospital pre-alerts and documentation.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Kent Central Ambulance Service Ltd
The vehicle had equipment considered appropriate for the authorised scope of care, despite not necessarily matching NHS ambulance specifications.
-
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.
Linked response
- East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Repair the identified faulty Mangar Elk equipment.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
-
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Annual servicing and the Medical Devices Policy are considered sufficient to manage Mangar Elk faults.
-
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Testing Mangar Elk function during daily vehicle checks is considered impracticable because inflation and deflation would delay responses.
-
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Safety for Mangar Elk use is considered adequately managed by attending ambulance staff, despite the equipment lacking safety straps.
-
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026