From the 7 to 19 December 2023
During a routine inspection
This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 10 October 2018 the service was rated overall Good)
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Outstanding
Are services well-led? – Good
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Barking Hospital from the 7 to 19 December 2023 as part of our inspection programme.
How we carried out the inspection.
This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on site.
This included:
- Conducting staff interviews using video conferencing.
- Reviewing patient records to identify issues and clarify actions taken by the provider.
- Requesting evidence from the provider.
- A site visit.
Our findings
We based our judgement of the quality of care at this service on a combination of:
- what we found when we inspected
- information from our ongoing monitoring of data about services and
- information from the provider, patients, the public and other organisations.
At this inspection we found:
We rated the service as outstanding for providing responsive services because:
- People can access services and appointments in a way and at a time that suits them.
- Technology was used innovatively to ensure people have timely access to treatment, support, and care.
- The service identified people’s health inequalities and needs and provided services in response.
- The service improved on commissioned services to provide better outcomes for patients.
- People’s individual needs and preferences were central to the delivery of tailored services.
We have rated safe, effective, caring and well-led as good because:
- Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
- The service had systems to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse.
- Technology and equipment were used to improve treatment and to support patients' independence. The service was able to access the patients GP NHS records to ensure they had enough information when making care and treatment decisions.
- Staff worked together and worked well with other organisations to deliver effective care and treatment.
- The service had a vision and strategy to deliver quality care and promote good outcomes for patients.
- Leaders had the capacity and skills to deliver quality sustainable care.
- There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
The areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Act to risk assess any Disclosure and Barring checks that are not current and from a previous employer.
- Improve the recording and guidance for the audit of clinician’s patient consultations reviews.
- Review policies and procedure to check they fully reflect the services practices.
- Act to record verbal complaints to enable the identification of any reoccurring issues.
- Seek further assurance that all staff have completed the necessary training for their roles.
Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA
Chief Inspector of Health Care