MP takes mountain rescue team campaign to Westminster

In Parliament this week, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron urged ministers to exempt mountain rescue teams from plans which could land them with bills of thousands of pounds to provide first aid at local events.

Mountain rescue teams have a long tradition of being on hand to provide first aid at community events like fell races, mountain bike events, and agricultural shows.

But proposed amendments to the Health and Social Care Act would mean that any group providing first aid at an event with a medical professional in the organisation must register with the CQC (Care Quality Commission).

This would result in mountain rescue teams having to pay thousands of pounds to register – a significant cost which small volunteer-led organisations would struggle to afford.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate yesterday, Tim said: “I utterly value the intervention and support of the mountain rescue teams in keeping us safe. 

“We reckon, however, that CQC registration could cost an estimated £10,000 to £20,000 in total, admin charges included, for each of those mountain rescue teams. That is five in my patch, 12 across Cumbria and, I think, 47 across the whole country. 

“That would mean that those volunteer-led teams simply could not sustain their level of operation. They would have to withdraw from those events entirely, and the events would have to take on professional and much more expensive cover by people who would not be able to get up the fell anyway. 

“As has been mentioned by others, mountain rescue would still be called out if someone ended up involved in an accident halfway up or at the top.

“All we ask of the Minister - I have also written to the Minister for Health Innovation and Safety on this point - is for the Government to introduce a proportionate, risk-based exemption for volunteer mountain rescue teams, so that vital community services are protected without disproportionate regulatory burdens.”

In response, the Minister for Local Transport, Lilian Greenwood said: “Many honourable members have raised concerns about potential regulatory changes that may affect the work of mountain rescue, principally, the removal of regulatory exemptions around Care Quality Commission registration. 

“The Care Quality Commission will commence a consultation from 8 May to 12 June, which will provide further opportunities for groups and individuals affected to discuss their concerns. 

“I hope that I can offer some reassurance to honourable members that that will include a separate stream specifically for mountain rescue, made up of focus groups and wider engagement. That feedback will then inform how the changes will be implemented to avoid such groups being disproportionately impacted, including through new guidance being developed by the CQC.”