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<p>The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult
social care in England. The CQC makes decisions on whether to register providers based
on the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.</p><p> </p><p>The CQC
provides assurance that all registered providers are meeting the relevant standards
and then through a system of monitoring and ongoing inspection to make sure that standards
are being maintained.</p><p> </p><p>The CQC has advised us that for the period July,
August and September 2016 Coperforma held the contract with High Weald Lewes Haven
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to provide Patient Transport Services to the population
of Brighton and elsewhere. The CQC has confirmed that Coperforma were registered to
provide patient transport services during the period in question.</p><p> </p><p>The
CQC has confirmed that Docklands Medical Services Ltd was not registered to provide
patient transport services during the period in question. When it is brought to the
attention of the CQC that a provider may have been delivering a regulated activity
without registration, they investigate. If the CQC finds evidence to show that regulated
activity is or has been delivered whilst unregistered then the CQC may prosecute.
It is an offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry out a regulated
activity - in this case patient transport services - without being registered with
the CQC. The CQC is investigating whether an offence has been committed.</p><p> </p><p>The
Department understands that <ins class="ministerial">when</ins> the High Weald Lewes
Havens CCG identified that the <ins class="ministerial">CQC registration in question
related </ins><del class="ministerial">registered provider Coperforma had subcontracted
service delivery</del> to Docklands Medical Services <ins class="ministerial">(London)</ins>
<del class="ministerial">Ltd</del> <ins class="ministerial">rather than Docklands
Medical Services Ltd, they contacted </ins><del class="ministerial">and immediately
instructed</del> Coperforma <ins class="ministerial">asking them to confirm the relevant
CQC registration status.</ins><del class="ministerial"> to cease using Docklands Medical
Services Limited as a subcontractor. This was immediately actioned by Coperforma.
</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">I have also asked NHS England to investigate
this provision of transport services during July, August and September 2016.</ins></p>
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