This service is rated as
Good
overall.
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Requires improvement
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? – Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection, as part of our inspection programme on 11 May 2021 at Dr Sobia Medispa. The service is provided from The Old Post House, 46 King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EU. This was the service’s first CQC inspection.
This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Dr Sobia Medispa provides a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example facial fillers for skin rejuvenation, which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services.
The registered provider is a doctor and leads the service. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The scheduled comprehensive inspection programme planned for 2020 was placed on hold in response to the restrictions imposed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. However, during this period we implemented a programme to monitor this service through our transitional monitoring arrangements. We were received reassurance that the service was operating in accordance with the government restrictions and a Covid Secure risk assessment.
The service was closed for several months during 2020 in accordance with lock down restrictions. Between January 2021 and 12 April 2021 the service opened one day per week to offer follow up consultation and support to existing patients. (The registered provider and the staff team referred to people who used their service as patients).
As part of our adapted inspection methodology to limit direct contact between the inspection team and people using the service we asked the provider to share our ‘contact us’ website link (https://www.cqc.org.uk/give-feedback-on-care ) so that patients could provide feedback directly to us. We received three feedback forms which all contained complimentary information about the service they received, referring to a warm welcome, not feeling rushed, the communication skills of the clinician, good after care and the use of personal protection equipment (PPE).
Our key findings were:
- The service was offered on a private, fee-paying basis only and was accessible to patients who chose to use it.
- Information for patients was comprehensive and accessible. This included the services on offer and the levels of payment.
- Patient feedback was positive, complimenting the service they received, the quality of their care and treatment and the protections in place to minimise risks of COVID 19 transmission.
- Treatment outcomes were evaluated using feedback from patients and reviews carried out by the provider which included some audits to evaluate and undertake quality improvement processes.
- Procedures were safely managed and there were effective levels of patient support and aftercare. However following treatment excised skins lesions such as moles were not sent for histopathological examination potentially putting patients at risk from a missed diagnosis of skin cancer.
- The electronic patient record system comprehensively recorded patients’ information including consent to treatment and photography.
- The provider was doctor and had the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to deliver the care and treatment offered by the service.
- The provider involved patients in decisions regarding their care and treatment. The service encouraged and valued feedback from patients.
- Staff were aware of their own roles and responsibilities. They said they felt supported by leaders and managers who were accessible and visible. Communication between staff was effective.
- There was good awareness of safety measure to minimise the risk of COVID 19 transmission. Infection prevention and control measures were effectively implemented.
The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:
- Ensure that care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Update the doctor’s training records held by the service to include evidence of update or refresher training in for example minor surgery and safeguarding.
- Review policies and procedures to ensure they reflect current legislation.
- Recruitment records including evidence of identity should be logged in accordance with legislation.
Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care