BPAS - Stratford upon Avon

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) Stratford Upon Avon is operated by British Pregnancy Advisory Service and was inspected as part of CQC’s comprehensive inspection programme. BPAS Stratford Upon Avon has not been inspected since it was registered in June 2019. BPAS Stratford Upon Avon has two satellite services in Coventry and Nuneaton and is called the ‘Stratford Upon Avon hub’. The BPAS Stratford Upon Avon hub provide termination of pregnancy services for women in Stratford Upon Avon, Coventry and Nuneaton and the surrounding areas.

From 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, the Stratford Upon Avon hub completed a total of 1896 early medical abortions (less than nine weeks six days pregnant). Of this total 799 were completed at the Stratford Unit Avon, 688 at Coventry and 409 at Nuneaton.

Prior to the inspection, inspectors reviewed monitoring and ongoing information about the service.

We rated this location it as requires improvement because:

• Women did not have timely appointments and had to wait longer than national guidance and there could be a delay in women receiving treatment.
• Requirements of the duty of candour were not fully met.
• Not all medicines were stored appropriately.
• Timely statutory notifications were not always made to The Care Quality Commission

However:

• The service had enough staff to care for women and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect women from abuse. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to women, acted on them and kept good care records.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and there were appropriate arrangements to ensure women had appropriate pain relief. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women, 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 seven days a week.
• Staff treated women 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 women, families and carers.
• The service made it easy for people to give feedback.
• Leaders ran services using 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 women receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with women and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.