Archived: Private Walk-In Clinic

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 January 2018 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Private Walk-In Clinic registered with CQC under the provider organisation SomDoc Walk-In Clinic Limited in July 2016.

Private Walk-In Clinic provides a private medical service to adults and children. The majority of patients attending the service are from the Somali community. Services include a private general medical service, immunisations such as child immunisations and travel vaccinations, health screening and lifestyle management. The service team consists of a principal GP, a second GP who is also a director of the provider organisation and two long term locum GPs, one male and one female, a full-time practice manager, a phlebotomist who also undertakes administrative duties and a full-time reception and administration staff member. All members of staff speak English and Somali.

Our key findings were:

The service was providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

• There were systems in place to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
• The provider had a protocol in place to ensure that identity checks were undertaken when a patient presented at the service for the first time. This included a step to check that persons accompanying paediatric patients had parental authority for the child.
• The practice assessed risks to patient safety and we found the premises appeared well maintained.
• There were effective systems in place for recording, investigating and learning from significant events.
• Care and treatment was provided in line with evidence based guidance.
• Staff worked with other health professionals where appropriate and supported patients to lead healthier lifestyles.
• The provider participated in improvement activity such as non-clinical audit to support service improvements.
• Staff understood the relevant consent and decision-making requirements of legislation and guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Patient feedback through CQC comment cards and the provider’s own surveys showed patients were happy with the service received and that they felt involved in decisions about their care.
• Services were provided that were responsive to the needs of the population served. This included timely and flexible services.
• There was clear leadership and governance arrangements to support the running of the service and delivery of high quality care. Staff felt supported.
• The provider was proactive in identifying challenges and responsive to feedback received to support service improvements.
• The provider demonstrated a strong commitment to the Somali community and was involved in promoting healthier lifestyles and health screening programmes.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Put steps in place so that storage containers for used sharps are clearly marked to indicate the date on which the container is installed.
• Consider undertaking improvements to the sink and taps in the consulting room so these are in line with best practice.
• Consider undertaking clinical audits to identify areas where patient care could be improved.