News

First Care has been providing health transport service across Devon for over twenty years. In 2016 we were granted our first NHS contract which was quickly followed by another contract, covering the Plymouth area.

Having successfully delivered services for over seven years, we were delighted when Devon NHS invited us to take up a new five year contract to continue delivering the Devon Transport Service.

The new contract commences in April 2024 and will see a new vehicle fleet in place including six 100% electric vehicles.

We will continue to operate from our bases in Plymouth, Exeter and Barnstaple and will be introducing new green/social initiatives as part of our service delivery solution.

The Care Quality Commission carried out a comprehensive audit in July for First Care. The audit considered whether our service was; safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. It was superb to be graded as good for all five areas. This is a real vote of confidence for all First Care Colleagues and we are proud of our achievements.

Click here to read the September 2022 CQC report.

First Care will be operating at the Minor Injuries Unit in Ilfracombe during the busy summer period. This is the second year we have provided this particular service and will hopefully alleviate pressures on the A&E department at North Devon District Hospital.

Carbon Positive – it’s a good thing…!

Net Zero is the ultimate target, but vehicle technology does not currently provide an economic/efficient solution for patient transport. FCA will adopt technological advances in vehicles over time, but right now some ‘immediate action’ is the right thing to do. We have chosen to work with Earthly Limited and support varied climate initiatives across the world.

• FCA has an annual fleet mileage of circa 1.75 million miles. This produces 700 tonnes of carbon.
• The Earthly programme allows FCA to sponsor climate change initiatives that are estimated to offset 770 tonnes of carbon. This means that FCA is classified as carbon positive, in that we give back more than we produce.

First Care has been providing patient transport services across Devon since 2016. As a contracted NHS provider, our service provision is measured against key performance standards and it is good to know that we have met our targets for the past six years.

We are delighted that NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group has invited First Care to continue the service through until March 2024. This is a real vote of confidence for the whole First Care Team and we will continue to provide a safe and reliable service for Devon patients.

First Care – Aiming for a Carbon Neutral fleet

As a transport service, First Care Ambulance recognises that as an organisation serving the population of Devon, we have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint. Our ambulance fleet covers over 2,000,000 miles a year and this burns an awful lot of diesel. Ultimately the fleet will become 100% electric, but until then we must take action to offset our emissions.

First Care has been exploring how best to make a positive contribution towards the climate emergency and believe a Carbon Offset programme is the best option before we move to Net Zero.

We will soon start investing in certified carbon offset initiatives such as tree planting and habitat protection. Our target is to be Carbon Neutral by the end of August 2022.

Since the start of the pandemic GP’s have been working under great pressure to deliver services whilst minimising Covid risks. The winter period always see’s increasing demand and First Care will once again be supporting GP practices in North Devon to deliver services.

First Care Paramedics will be making home visits delivering a triage service and working closely with GP practices to deliver the best outcome for patients.

From October 4×4 vehicles will be available if winter weather conditions prove challenging in rural locations.

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As Covid-19 restrictions start to relax, events are seeing a welcome return. First Care has provided Covid secure medical cover for athletics events in Exeter and the popular craft Fair at Westpoint in the last few weeks.

Feel free to contact one of the First Care team to discuss requirements at your future event, or find out more about Event Medical Services.

First Care provides a Minor Injuries Unit for residents in North Devon

With a significant number of holiday makers expected to visit North Devon this summer, First Care is operating a Minor Injuries service at Ilfracombe Hospital every weekend. This will provide a service for residents and holiday makers in the Ilfracombe area and help alleviate demand at North Devon District A&E Department.