Regulator throws spotlight on performance at Eccleshill Independent Treatment Centre

8 May 2009

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today said that it has received reassurances from Eccleshill Independent Treatment Centre in West Yorkshire that the service is addressing shortcomings in treatment of patients.

It comes as CQC published a report on an inspection carried out by the then regulator, the Healthcare Commission, in January this year. The report placed a series of requirements on operator Nations Healthcare (North Bradford) Ltd. The inspection also resulted in the serving of two statutory enforcement notices, issued in relation to breaches of four regulations.

The main findings of the report were:

• Poor practice identified in the areas of: risk management, failure to oversee the destruction of controlled drugs and staff recruitment
• Inadequate practice identified in the areas of: medicines management, decontamination, quality monitoring, anaesthesia and recovery services, policies and procedures, health and safety management and patient-centred care for people whose first language is not English or who have a disability.
• Good practice was identified in the areas of: maintenance of equipment and supplies, infection control, operating theatre practice, radiology treatment services, laser treatment services, the Registered Manager's and staff's abilities, skills and awareness and complaints management.

Tim Weller, CQC Senior Manager for Enforcement, said:

"Our inspection in January gave rise to a number of concerns for the safety of patients at the treatment centre. Because of this, we imposed a number of statutory requirements. We will, though, continue to cast a very bright light on this service to ensure that improvement is realised.

"Nations Healthcare (North Bradford) Ltd was found to be in breach of regulations through failing to oversee the destruction of controlled drugs. The provider had been required to address this issue before, so we have had little option but to issue enforcement notices.

"Further non-compliance was identified in respect of staff recruitment and training. Criminal Records Bureau checks had not been routinely carried out and job references had not been followed up. We concluded that staff are not appropriately recruited, inducted or supervised and the training records do not assure the organisation that staff are trained as required."

CQC carried out a further unannounced inspection on 28 April 2009 and found some improvement had been made. The regulator was not satisfied that the notice predominantly in relation to CRB checks had been complied with and is now addressing this with Nations Healthcare.

Tim Weller added:

"We have since received further assurances from Nations Healthcare in a written action plan, which indicates that improvements are being made. All of this is welcome, but the company needs to be very clear that we will not hesitate to take further action where necessary."

CQC will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary. The statutory powers at the disposal of the Care Quality Commission mean that it can take enforcement action such as prosecution or cancellation of registration.

Ends

For press enquiries, please contact CQC regional communications manager David Fryer on 07901 514220, or media relations manager Andy Keast-Marriott on 020 7448 9396/ 07917 232 143 (after hours).

Notes to editors

1. Eccleshill Independent Treatment Centre was registered by The Healthcare Commission in 2005. The centre is operated by Nations Healthcare.
2. An inspection of Eccleshill was undertaken by the Healthcare Commission in August 2006 when one standard was identified as not being met and eleven standards as almost met. Nations Healthcare was informed and an action plan was drawn up and completed.