A PRIVATE hospital in Stratford has been rated as ‘requiring improvement’ after failing to carry out criminal checks on staff and for poor infection prevention practices.
Stratford Clinic on Alcester Road is run by South Warwickshire Clinical Services – a subsidiary company of South Warwickshire Foundation Trust.
Healthcare inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently visited the clinic for the first time, and have rated it as ‘requiring improvement’ after highlight a number of issues.
These included failing to follow protocol when decontaminating instruments – which the hospital says has since been rectified – not counting swabs, needles and instruments before and after eye procedures, and failing to always complete consent forms.
And not all staff had an up-to-date disclosure and barring service (DBS) certificate, which would show any criminal history and whether they were suitable to work with some vulnerable adults.
Inspectors also raised concerns about cleaning arrangements, and that the hospital’s one operating theatre had not been deep cleaned for more than a year – although it has since been done.
On a positive note, inspectors said the hospital was clean and tidy, patients were treated with dignity and respect, and that feedback was positive.
An action plan has now been put into place by clinic bosses, who hope to have another inspection soon in a bid to see its rating improved.
Clinical services managing director John Coyne said: “Although the initial result was disappointing it is reassuring to note that a ‘good’ rating was awarded for a number of areas.
“However, since the inspection report was issued The Stratford Clinic team have committed themselves to addressing those areas requiring improvement. The Stratford Clinic is dedicated to only the highest standards of patient care and continues to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.”
The ‘requiring improvement’ score is given overall based upon five categories, which saw the hospital receive an ‘inadequate’ rating in the effectiveness category and ‘good’ in the caring category.
For safety, responsiveness and leadership categories it was rated ‘requiring improvement’.
Stratford Clinic was taken over from Circle Healthcare several years ago. It offers surgery such as cataract operations and cosmetic procedures along with screening services and outpatients clinics.
