Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC - Nottingham)

Updated 29 August 2023

Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC) is an independent provider of NHS ophthalmic and endoscopy care in the community. The ophthalmology service provides the following treatments;

• Cataracts
• YAG Laser
• MECS
• General Ophthalmology
• Minor ops

The service first registered with CQC in October 2021. Nottingham Cataract and Surgical Centre did not have a registered manager in post at the time of inspection, the registered manager was in the process of de-registering. Registered manager cover was being provided by the regional manager of the service. The service registered with the CQC to provide the following regulated activities:

• Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• Diagnostic and screening procedures
• Surgical procedures

The main service we inspected was surgery, which incorporated diagnostic and screening checks of the eyes before and after treatment. We have not reported this aspect separately.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care, we ask the same 5 questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs, and well led. The main service provided was surgery. Where our findings on surgery also apply to other services, we do not repeat the information but cross-refer to the surgery service level.

Updated 29 August 2023

We carried out an inspection of Nottingham Cataract and Surgical Centre, part of Community Health and Eyecare Limited, using our comprehensive methodology on 11 July 2023. This was the first time we inspected the service. We rated it as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

We have not previously inspected the service. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They staff managed medicines effectively. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• The service provided access to rapid ophthalmological care in the local area. Staff provided good care and treatment and managed pain well. The senior team monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Consent practices and records were actively monitored and reviewed to improve how people were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• There was a visible person-centred culture. Staff offered care that was kind and promoted people’s dignity. Relationships between people who use the service, those close to them and staff were strong, caring, and supportive. Staff treated patients with compassion and took account of their individual needs and helped them understand their conditions. People’s individual needs and preferences were central to the planning and delivery of tailored services.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and received the right care promptly. The service investigated patient’s complaints thoroughly.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. Staff were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However;

• The service should ensure staff always wear personal protective equipment correctly.
• The service should ensure that the resuscitation trolley is managed appropriately.

Updated 29 August 2023

See overall summary above.