CQC rates Lancashire eye patient service outstanding

Published: 29 April 2022 Page last updated: 12 May 2022
Categories
Media

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated a Skelmersdale eye patient service outstanding following an inspection carried out in February.

CQC inspected SpaMedica Skelmersdale as part of its regular checks on health and social care services.

The independent eye patient service provides cataract surgery, laser treatments and acute macular degeneration services to NHS and private patients.

The service was rated outstanding overall, as well as for being effective and responsive to people’s needs. It has been rated good for being safe, caring and well-led.

Karen Knapton, CQC's head of hospital inspection, said:

“We were very impressed by the quality and safety of care provided to people at SpaMedica Skelmersdale.

“The service was well staffed by professionals who took all necessary steps to support people’s needs and ensure their safety.

“Behind this was good management from leaders who used reliable systems to understand the service and plan its future.

“It was great to hear the service received constant positive patient feedback, which confirmed that people were satisfied with the care and treatment they received, and all staff should be proud of this recognition.”

Inspectors found:

  • The service had enough staff with the right training to safely care for patients and ensure they did not wait too long for treatment
  • Infection risk and medicines were managed effectively
  • Care records were comprehensive
  • Reviews were undertaken and lessons learned when safety incidents occurred
  • Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, as well as respected their privacy and dignity. They took account of patients’ individual needs and helped them understand their conditions
  • Care was well planned to meet people’s needs and preferences, and patient feedback was encouraged to help the service continually improve
  • Leaders used reliable information systems to give them oversight of the service’s performance and address issues that could affect patient care
  • Leaders also ensured staff understood the service’s vision and values, which focused them on patient care, and staff said they felt supported and respected by their managers.

Full details of the inspection are given in the report published on our website.


For enquiries about this press release please email regional.engagement@cqc.org.uk.

Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the press office is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters.)

For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.

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.