London Centre for Refractive Surgery (Ultralase Harley Street)

Updated 23 January 2023

London Centre for Refractive Surgery provides ophthalmic procedures to self-funding patients aged of 18 years of age and over. All patients receiving care at the service are patients of surgeons using the provider’s operating facilities under practising privileges.

London Centre for Refractive Surgery is operated by Ultralase Eye Clinics Limited, which is part of the Eye Hospital Group. The clinic opened in 1991. The service offers implantable contact lenses (ICL), YAG laser treatment, lens replacement surgery, blepharoplasty (eye lid surgery) lesion, lumps, bumps, cysts and pterygium treatments. Patients who have LASIK or LASEK laser eye surgery are treated at another site managed by the same provider.

At the time of the inspection, there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager had been in the post since April 2021.

The service was first inspected in July 2014. Our previous inspection of the service took place in November 2017 but not rated. In 2017, we did not have a legal duty to rate refractive eye surgery services when they were provided as a single speciality service.

Updated 23 January 2023

The service had not previously been rated. We rated it as requires improvement:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients and supported them to make decisions about their care.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities.

However:

• The service did not require staff working under practising privileges to complete safeguarding training.
• The service did not always control infection risk well.
• The service did not always provide care and treatment based on national guidance and evidence-based practice.
• The service did not always make sure staff were competent for their roles.
• The service did not manage incidents well.
• The service did not ensure consent documentation and health questionnaires were accessible and in line with best practice.
• The service did not ensure patient information was available in other languages.
• Leaders did not always have effective governance processes.
• The services vision and strategy were not clear.
• The provider did not engage with patients about their experiences of using the service.

Updated 23 January 2023