Lincolnshire emergency care charity told it requires improvement

Inspectors found instability in the leaders and that staff didn't feel respected or supported

A charity that provides emergency care in Lincolnshire has been told by inspectors it requires improvement.

LIVES, based in Horncastle, had a surprise inspection in November from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors found instability in leadership and that staff didn't feel respected or supported.

The charity, which sends community first responders around the county, said it was "disappointed" with the rating it had been given.

According to the report, LIVES attended more than 10,000 calls last year.

Inspectors discovered staff infection prevention measures weren't properly recorded and there weren't always risk assessments carried out for every patient.

It further found there was no training given on how to restrain patients and that when it came to safeguarding and controlled drugs, it found that protocols weren't being followed.

It noted there was also high turnover and sickness rates.

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Dr Daniel Sedgewick, medical director at LIVES, said: "We're disappointed about the small number of regulatory matters where we know we can do better.

"We have already taken steps to rectify these and we look forward with confidence to welcoming the CQC back for future inspections."

Dr Sedgewick also said its volunteers and clinical teams "strive to provide the highest level of care" for its patients and that it receives "many thank you notes".

An online petition, calling for the charity's CEO to resign, has gathered more than 250 signatures.

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