Musgrove Park Hospital

Updated 29 July 2022

Blackdown Orthopaedic and Spinal Services is a limited liability partnership between a group of orthopaedic surgeons and spinal surgeons, and their anaesthetist colleagues.

The provider is contracted to provide the following services at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton:

• Saturday orthopaedic outpatient clinics in the trauma and orthopaedic outpatient department. The clinics create additional clinic capacity for outpatient appointments for patients who are currently on the waiting list of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
• Orthopaedic surgical activity during times of unused theatre capacity on Saturdays.

The service is registered with CQC to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures.
• Surgical procedures.
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

There are contractual partnership agreements (Service Level Agreements (SLA)) which include information about the facilities, equipment, medicines, clinical staff, policies and procedures provided by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The SLA also sets out the arrangements for managing records, medicines and safety incidents.

The service had not previously been inspected. There were no special reviews or investigations of the service ongoing by the CQC during the 12 months before the inspection.

Updated 29 July 2022

The overall rating for Blackdown Orthopaedic and Spinal Services was good. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had updated their training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, 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 them 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 patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients 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 patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Leaders ran 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 patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

Updated 29 July 2022

The overall rating for Blackdown Orthopaedic and Spinal Services was good. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had updated their training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, 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 them 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 patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients 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 patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Leaders ran 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 patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.