HMP Stocken

We carried out an announced focused inspection of healthcare services provided by Care UK Health & Rehabilitation Services Limited at HMP Stocken on 10 and 11 December 2019.

Following our last joint inspection with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in February 2019, we found that the quality of healthcare provided by Care UK Health & Rehabilitation Services Limited at this location required improvement. We issued Requirement Notices in relation to Regulations 9, Person-centred care, 12, Safe care and treatment and 17, Good governance, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The purpose of this focused inspection was to determine if the healthcare services provided by Care UK Health & Rehabilitation Services Limited were meeting the legal requirements of the Requirement Notices that we issued in May 2019. We checked to see if patients were receiving person-centred and safe care and treatment and that governance systems had improved. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made and the provider was meeting the regulations.

We do not currently rate services provided in prisons.

At this inspection we found:

• Risks relating to patients’ health and well-being were regularly assessed and steps taken to mitigate risks.
• Steps had been taken to ensure that the management of medicines was safe.
• Waiting times to see the GP, whether for substance misuse reviews or other reasons, had reduced.
• The system for reviewing and triaging patients’ healthcare applications had been amended and we saw that patients were booked into the appropriate clinic. Patients with more urgent needs were prioritised.
• Health screening and vaccination activity had increased and eligible patients were identified and offered these services.
• The provider had put support in place to assist the local team to improve quality monitoring arrangements.
• Risks associated with the service delivery were identified and steps taken to mitigate risks.
• Record keeping had improved and the provider had put into place an ongoing programme of auditing and support for staff to ensure improved standards were maintained.
• Incident reporting had improved and we saw that there was an open culture which promoted reporting and learning from errors.
• Patient feedback about the service was sought through surveys and the reinstated patient forum. Action was taken in response to the feedback received and information communicated back to patients.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Follow up all patients that do not attend for three consecutive medicines administration slots.
• Review all care plans relating to pressure area and wound care to ensure they accurately reflect the care and treatment being provided.
• Carry out regular checks of controlled drug stock and the associated records.
• Provide better support to staff through systematic and consistent communication and supervision.