19 June 2019
During a routine inspection
This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 05 2018)
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 at The Smart Clinics Brompton Cross on 19 June 2019 as part of our inspection programme, and to rate the independent doctors aspect of the service for the first time. General dental services are also provided at The Smart Clinics Brompton Cross, which we also inspected on the same day as this inspection, but which are reported on separately as that aspect of the service is not being rated.
The two service managers are the registered managers. One of the registered managers is currently on long term absence. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. 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.
Fifteen people provided feedback about the service by completing comments cards, which we made available in the practice two weeks prior to our inspection and on the day of our inspection itself. Their comments were all positive about their care and treatment experiences, reception staff and clinicians being helpful and treating them with care. We also received four patient feedback responses through the Share Your Experience area of our website about The Smart Clinics Brompton Cross since this inspection was announced. These were also all positive and had similar themes to the comments cards completed at the service, such as a good care and treatment, a prompt and convenient service, and that the service was provided in a clean environment.
Our key findings were:
- There were arrangements to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse. However, some areas need further review; particularly management of medicines, staff training, infection prevention and control arrangements and clinical waste management.
- The service undertook clinical and non-clinical quality improvement activities in the independent doctors’ service.
- Patient feedback we received indicated people were totally satisfied with their care and treatment experiences and raised no concerns or complaints about the independent doctors service.
- We found that complaints were appropriately managed.
- The facilities and premises were appropriate for the services offered.
- There were clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability to support good management.
The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:
- Ensure 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:
- Records checks of medicines and equipment for treating medical emergencies to provide assurances they are fit for purpose.
- Provide appropriate notifications and information to people using and accessing the service for the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in common areas.
Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care