A specialist ophthalmology service in Wakefield, has been rated outstanding following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
CQC inspected SpaMedica Wakefield in November 2021. The service which is operated by SpaMedica Ltd offers cataract surgery for NHS patients.
The inspection found that people using the service benefitted from outstanding care which led to them leading more fulfilling lives following their treatment.
Following the inspection, SpaMedica Wakefield was rated outstanding overall and outstanding for being effective and caring. It was rated good for being responsive, safe and well-led. The service was previously rated as good overall.
Sarah Dronsfield, CQC’s head of hospital inspection, said:
“Our inspectors were extremely impressed by the outstanding level of care people using SpaMedica Wakefield received.
“People were seen quickly, with 93% being seen within the 18-week referral to treatment time and people were treated as individuals and staff supported them with any anxieties or worries about their procedure.
“Throughout our inspection, we saw staff who always treated people with kindness and respect. Relatives told us that the level of care was excellent, and staff would always go the extra mile.
“For example, during heavy snow two patients became stranded in Wakefield on their way to get treatment. A manager contacted a hotel near the hospital to arrange and provide overnight accommodation and food until the weather improved.
“Staff said that they were very proud of the service they delivered to give people the best possible care and described their colleagues as supportive.
“All of this meant that the service was providing the best care for people and the whole team at SpaMedica Wakefield deserves to be congratulated. I would encourage other providers to read this report and see what they could learn.”
CQC inspectors found:
- The service had maintained positive patient outcomes and referral to treatment times despite the Covid-19 pandemic. They had treated 15,703 patients between December 2020 and November 2021
- Feedback from people who used the service was continually positive about the kind and supportive way staff treated patients
- Staff made special efforts to care for patients and provide additional help and resources when patients were in need
- The service provided a 24-hour, seven day on call service and managed any post-operative complication in house, when possible, rather than sending patients to an NHS provider
- Staff were proactively supported and encouraged to acquire new skills, use their existing skills, and share best practice
- The service provided free transport to patients who lived within a set distance from the location
- Patient stories were available as DVDs or on the website for patients to review prior to their procedure to help them feel more at ease.
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 duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters).
For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.