Archived: BPAS - Oxford Central

Updated 7 November 2022

BPAS – Oxford Central is operated by British Pregnancy Advisory Service. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service was established as a registered charity in 1968 to provide a safe, legal abortion service following the Abortion Act 1967.

BPAS – Oxford Central provides a termination of pregnancy service and a vasectomy service. The services are provided under contract, with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire integrated care boards (ICB). BPAS - Oxford Central operates from a building owned by Oxford Health Foundation Trust and these premises are shared with the sexual health service run by Oxford University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The centre has a registered manager in place and is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures
• Family planning
• Surgical procedures
• Termination of pregnancies
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury

The centre offers early medical abortion for women up to 10 weeks and surgical abortion to 13+6 weeks gestation.

We last inspected this service in October 2015. There were no requirement notices or enforcement actions that resulted from this inspection. The report highlighted one recommended area for improvement;

• Clearly specify the number and dosage of codeine phosphate tablets given to women to take home on the discharge summaries.

At the 2015 inspection, we did not rate the service, as at the time CQC did not have the methodology to do so. This is the first inspection where the service will be rated.

Updated 7 November 2022

We have not rated this unit before. We rated it as good because:

• Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect clients from abuse, and managed safety well. Staff assessed risks to clients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave clients pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of clients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available to suit clients' needs.
• Staff treated clients 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 clients, families and carers.
• Leaders ran the 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. They were focused on the needs of clients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities.

However:

• The unit had fabric chairs in the unit waiting room. Although these were regularly cleaned, they were stained and appeared to be dirty.
• The unit was in an area that was difficult to access, with limited off-site parking and access to the department was via other units.

Updated 7 November 2022

We have not rated this unit before. We rated it as good because:

• Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect clients from abuse, and managed safety well. Staff assessed risks to clients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave clients pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of clients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available to suit clients' needs.
• Staff treated clients 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 clients, families and carers.
• Leaders ran the 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. They were focused on the needs of clients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities.

However:

• The unit had fabric chairs in the unit waiting room. Although these were regularly cleaned, they were stained and appeared to be dirty.
• The unit was in an area that was difficult to access, with limited off-site parking and access to the department was via other units.