Newmedica Community Ophthalmology Service

Updated 8 November 2022

Newmedica Community Ophthalmology Service is operated by Suffolk Newmedica Limited. The service started operating in August 2020.

The Newmedica Group is commissioned by NHS organisations to provide ophthalmology services (clinical eye care) for mainly NHS patients. The service also offers private patients access to services which accounts for a smaller part of their activity.

The service is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

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

All surgery undertaken by the service is adult, day case, ophthalmology surgery under local anaesthesia. There are no overnight patient stays.

The ophthalmic team consists of:

• Ophthalmology consultants
• Optometrists
• Registered nurses
• Clinic sssistants
• Ophthalmic assistants
• Ophthalmic technicians
• Operating department practitioners
• Scrub technicians
• Administration staff

The provider has another location, Lawson Place, Bury St Edmunds. Outpatient appointments are also carried out at Lawson Place. The provider has identified this as a satellite clinic. We did not inspect the outpatient services as part of this inspection.

Updated 8 November 2022

This is the first time we inspected this 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. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to eat and drink 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. Key services were available seven days a week.
• 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 8 November 2022

We have not previously inspected the service. We rated it as good. See the overall summary above for details.