Frome Renal Unit

Updated 3 February 2023

Frome Renal Unit is operated by Fresenius Medical Care Renal Service Limited. The centre provides dialysis treatment for patients living in Frome and the surrounding area. Dialysis treatment replicates the function of the kidneys for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

The unit has 12 dialysis stations, including one isolation room, and currently provides two dialysis sessions each day from Monday to Saturday.

The service is commissioned by NHS England. The service works closely with an NHS trust (referred to as the ‘parent NHS trust’) who refers patients for dialysis and retain clinical oversight and responsibility for patient treatment.

The centre is registered to provide the regulated activity of treatment of disease, disorder and injury for older and young adults over the age of 18 years.

The centre has a registered manager who has been in post since the centre opened.

The centre was registered with the Care Quality Commission in June 2019. This was the first time we inspected the centre.

Updated 3 February 2023

This was the first time we rated the service. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had 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. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment. 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.
• 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.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the unit’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. All staff were committed to improving services continually.
• All 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.

However:

• Recruitment checks were not always carried out in line with Schedule 3 of Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We reviewed four of 13 recruitment files and found there were gaps in the recruitment checks. This was mostly when staff transferred to work for Fresenius from a previous dialysis provider. This related to a lack of evidence of disclosure and barring checks.
• The service did not use a national tool to help them to identify patients who deteriorated.

Updated 3 February 2023

This was the first time we inspected the service. We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had 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. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment. 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.
• 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.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the unit’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. All staff were committed to improving services continually.
• All 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.

However:

• Recruitment checks were not always carried out in line with Schedule 3 of Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We reviewed four of 13 recruitment files and found there were gaps in the recruitment checks. This was mostly when staff transferred to work for Fresenius from a previous dialysis provider. This related to a lack of evidence of up to date disclosure and barring checks.
• The service did not use a national tool to help them to identify patients who deteriorated.