24 June 2009
A Mayfair business offering medical services illegally has been ordered to pay more than £15,000 in fines and legal costs following prosecution by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The independent regulator presented evidence to a District Judge that between January and September 2008, the Berkeley Clinic at 30 Dover Street in Mayfair provided private doctors despite not being registered with the CQC.
Under the Care Standards Act 2000, businesses offering private primary medical services in a walk-in centre must register with the CQC and comply with National Minimum Standards.
Pantherday Limited, which operates the business, pleaded guilty to the charges.
There was no evidence that the retail section of the business, which includes sales of vitamins and health products, was operating illegally.
In May last year, CQC's predecessor body, the Healthcare Commission, received information relating to care from a doctor at the Berkeley Clinic.
After attempts to get the service to register, the Healthcare Commission conducted an unannounced inspection and advised Berkeley Clinic that it may be operating illegally.
Over the following months, it interviewed a representative of Pantherday Limited, collected statements from witnesses and gathered evidence that the medical services were provided illegally. No witnesses provided evidence that they had been harmed during medical treatment.
Tim Weller, CQC's senior enforcement manager, said: "Unregistered providers of private health care can present a risk to the public because they are not subject to scrutiny by the regulator.
"People using private doctors should assure themselves that the service is registered with the Care Quality Commission or that the doctor has a contract with the NHS.
"This conviction sends a message to providers of unregistered services that CQC will take tough enforcement action where necessary to ensure the safety of patients."
Pantherday Limited is not connected to the Berkeley Clinic located at 19 Upper Berkeley Street in Mayfair.
Ends
For more information contact Megan Tudehope in the CQC press office on 0207 448 9018 or on 07917 232 143 after hours.
Notes to editors
About the CQC: Snippet for press releases
About the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.
We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.