The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • Independent doctor

Dr Sobia Medispa

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Old Post House, 46 King Street, Clitheroe, BB7 2EU (01200) 760525

Provided and run by:
Dr Sobia Syed

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Dr Sobia Medispa on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Dr Sobia Medispa, you can give feedback on this service.

15 February 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This service is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection, as part of our inspection programme on 11 May 2021 at Dr Sobia Medispa. The service was rated good overall however the safe key question was rated requires improvement. We issued a requirement notice for breach of Regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment. The full comprehensive report on the May 2021 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr Sobia Medispa on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was a desk-based review carried out on 15 February 2022 to confirm that the service had made the required improvements identified at our previous inspection in May 2021. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

The service is now rated good for providing safe services.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Dr Sobia Medispa provides a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example facial fillers for skin rejuvenation, which are not within CQC scope of registration.

The service is provided from The Old Post House, 46 King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EU. Services are offered on a private, fee-paying basis only.

The registered provider is a doctor and they lead the service. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

At our inspection in May 2021 we identified that a process to routinely send excised skin lesions for histological examination to rule out the presence of serious disease was not established. At this desk top review the provider supplied evidence that this had been addressed. This included:

  • The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration for Dr Sobia Medispa had been updated to include the regulated activity Diagnostic and screening procedures.
  • The provider had a contract in place with an independent laboratory that undertook histopathological examination of any excised skin lesions.

The provider also provided evidence that they had made other recommended improvements identified at the inspection of May 2021. For example, relevant policy documents and training and recruitment records had been updated as needed

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care.

11 May 2021

During a routine inspection

This service is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection, as part of our inspection programme on 11 May 2021 at Dr Sobia Medispa. The service is provided from The Old Post House, 46 King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EU. This was the service’s first CQC inspection.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Dr Sobia Medispa provides a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example facial fillers for skin rejuvenation, which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services.

The registered provider is a doctor and leads the service. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The scheduled comprehensive inspection programme planned for 2020 was placed on hold in response to the restrictions imposed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. However, during this period we implemented a programme to monitor this service through our transitional monitoring arrangements. We were received reassurance that the service was operating in accordance with the government restrictions and a Covid Secure risk assessment.

The service was closed for several months during 2020 in accordance with lock down restrictions. Between January 2021 and 12 April 2021 the service opened one day per week to offer follow up consultation and support to existing patients. (The registered provider and the staff team referred to people who used their service as patients).

As part of our adapted inspection methodology to limit direct contact between the inspection team and people using the service we asked the provider to share our ‘contact us’ website link (https://www.cqc.org.uk/give-feedback-on-care ) so that patients could provide feedback directly to us. We received three feedback forms which all contained complimentary information about the service they received, referring to a warm welcome, not feeling rushed, the communication skills of the clinician, good after care and the use of personal protection equipment (PPE).

Our key findings were:

  • The service was offered on a private, fee-paying basis only and was accessible to patients who chose to use it.

  • Information for patients was comprehensive and accessible. This included the services on offer and the levels of payment.

  • Patient feedback was positive, complimenting the service they received, the quality of their care and treatment and the protections in place to minimise risks of COVID 19 transmission.

  • Treatment outcomes were evaluated using feedback from patients and reviews carried out by the provider which included some audits to evaluate and undertake quality improvement processes.

  • Procedures were safely managed and there were effective levels of patient support and aftercare. However following treatment excised skins lesions such as moles were not sent for histopathological examination potentially putting patients at risk from a missed diagnosis of skin cancer.

  • The electronic patient record system comprehensively recorded patients’ information including consent to treatment and photography.

  • The provider was doctor and had the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to deliver the care and treatment offered by the service.

  • The provider involved patients in decisions regarding their care and treatment. The service encouraged and valued feedback from patients.

  • Staff were aware of their own roles and responsibilities. They said they felt supported by leaders and managers who were accessible and visible. Communication between staff was effective.

  • There was good awareness of safety measure to minimise the risk of COVID 19 transmission. Infection prevention and control measures were effectively implemented.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

  • Ensure that care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Update the doctor’s training records held by the service to include evidence of update or refresher training in for example minor surgery and safeguarding.

  • Review policies and procedures to ensure they reflect current legislation.

  • Recruitment records including evidence of identity should be logged in accordance with legislation.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care