Sk:n Chester

Updated 1 November 2022

Sk:n Chester provides independent doctor-led dermatology services, offering skin treatments such as prescribing for acne and other skin conditions, and minor surgical procedures, including the excision of moles and other skin lesions. Treatments are provided for adults aged 18 and over. The service also provides non-regulated aesthetic treatments, for example, cosmetic Botox injections, laser hair removal, skin peels and hydrafacial procedures which are not within the CQC scope of registration.

The Registered Provider is Lasercare Clinics (Harrogate) Limited, who provide services from more than 50 locations across England. The service operates from a detached property located in the centre of Chester at:

1 Vicars Lane,

Chester,

CH1 1QX.

The building is a listed building and the service operates from the ground floor only. Toilets for staff and patients are on the second floor. The clinic does not have lift access to the second floor and is inaccessible for patients in a wheelchair. These patients were referred to a more accessible clinic nearby.

The service is open:

Tuesday and Wednesday 10-8pm

Friday 9-5pm

Alternate Saturday 9-6pm

The clinic is currently closed on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Appointments are available on a pre-bookable only basis.

The staff team is comprised of a clinic manager, who is a nurse and clinical practitioner. Doctors who specialise in dermatology, provide dermatology consultations and treatments at the clinic subject to client’s individual needs and appointment bookings. They have aesthetic practitioners who all provide only non-regulated aesthetic treatments. Staff are supported by the provider’s regional and national management and governance teams.

How we inspected this service

Before the inspection visit, we reviewed a range of information we hold about the service and information sent by the provider.

During the inspection we spoke with the provider and a member of staff, reviewed key documents supporting the delivery of the service, reviewed a sample of treatment records and made observations about the areas the service was delivered from.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?

These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 1 November 2022

This service is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

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 Sk:n Chester as part of our inspection programme. The service has not been previously inspected. The inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The service was registered with CQC on 4 May 2016. This was the first rated inspection of the service.

Sk:n Chester is registered with CQC to provide surgical procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury. At the time of the inspection treatments being provided that required CQC registration included independent doctor-led dermatology services, a mix of skin treatments and minor surgical procedures. Sk:n Chester also provided a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example anti-ageing injections and dermal fillers which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services.

The staff team is comprised of a nurse clinic manager, supported by aesthetic practitioners who all provide only non-regulated aesthetic treatments. Doctors who specialise in dermatology, provide dermatology consultations and treatments at the clinic subject to client’s individual needs and appointment bookings. Staff are supported by the provider’s regional and national management and governance teams.

Our key findings were:

• The service provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
• Safeguarding systems, processes and practices were developed, implemented and communicated to staff.
• The provider assessed needs and delivered care in line with relevant and current evidence-based guidance and standards.
• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.
• Patients were treated with respect and staff were kind, caring and involved them in decisions about their care.
• Patients were able to access care and treatment from the clinic within an appropriate timescale for their needs.
• There was a complaints procedure in place and information on how to complain was readily available.
• The service had systems in place to collect and analyse feedback from patients.
• The service demonstrated a culture which focused on the needs of patients and a commitment to driving improvement.
• The provider was knowledgeable about issues and priorities relating to the quality and future of services. They understood the challenges and were addressing them.
• There were clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability to support good governance and management.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• The provider should continue to monitor the patient consultation records to ensure the right level of detail is recorded for each patient assessment and appointment.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services