Archived: Adult Social Care Discharge Suite, Castle Hill Hospital (NHS)

Updated 10 November 2020

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 provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of Care Quality Commission’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, we are conducting a review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service had been identified for use by the Local Authority as a designated care setting in response to the Winter Plan for people discharged from hospital with a positive Covid-19 status. This inspection was to ensure that the service was compliant with infection control and prevention measures.

This inspection took place on 26 October 2020 and was announced.

Updated 10 November 2020

Adult Social Care Discharge Suite, Castle Hill Hospital (NHS) is a residential care service within the grounds of Castle Hill Hospital. The service supports up to 22 people who no longer need to be in an acute health care setting and who need a little longer to recuperate or, are awaiting a package of care to return to their own home or awaiting admission to a care home. We inspected the whole unit that could to be used to admit people who had a Covid-19 positive test result. There were 17 people living on the unit at the time of our inspection.

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ Systems in place allowed people to be admitted to the home safely. Clear visual markings around the service promoted social distancing and identified the separate areas to prevent cross infection.

¿ People isolating in the service had their own dedicated staff who provided a support bubble to support all their needs, including their meals and social support.

¿ National guidance was followed on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). There was clear signage on the correct use of PPE and stations were in place to ensure staff had access to PPE in a safe area.

¿ None touch hand washing facilities were throughout the service. Handwashing techniques were displayed around the service. Checks on staff handwashing were completed by the infection control lead and staff had received appropriate infection control and prevention training.

¿ The environment was very clean. Additional cleaning was taking place including of frequently touched surfaces.

¿ There were detailed risk assessments to manage and minimise the risks Covid-19 presented to people who used the service, staff and visitors.

¿ Staff had been consulted with about their specific risks or concerns. Each staff member had a detailed risk assessment and health risk assessment in place.

We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.