The Chiswick Hair Clinic

Updated 29 April 2022

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

You can find information about how we carry out our inspections on our website: https://www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-do-our-job/what-we-do-inspection.

Updated 29 April 2022

The Chiswick Hair Clinic specialises in hair transplantation for male pattern baldness, alopecia and hair loss. The treatment consists of Follicular Unit extraction (FUE) and implantation (Hair transplant procedures) and is carried out by a doctor under local anaesthetic with the patient fully conscious and awake throughout the entire procedure.

The service is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Surgical Procedures

There has been a registered manager in post since the service registered with CQC.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 24 January 2022. During the inspection we visited reception areas, waiting areas, the treatment room and a consultation room. We spoke with two senior staff members, including the registered manager who was also the clinic manager and the only employed hair transplant surgeon for the service. We spoke with one member of administrative staff via telephone.

The key questions we asked during this inspection were, was it safe, effective, responsive and well-led. Due to the low patient activity, we were unable to assess nor rate the caring key question.

We have not previously inspected this service.

Post-inspection, we invited the provider to send us further information evidencing compliance and improvement following initial feedback from our inspection findings. It was clear the provider had taken inspectors feedback seriously and was completing a programme of change to rectify all issues highlighted. We reviewed evidence, post-inspection, which demonstrated the provider was implementing positive changes. We will continue to monitor these changes through continual engagement.

Updated 29 April 2022

We have not previously rated this service. We rated it as requires improvement because:

• The provider did not have suitable arrangements for staff to follow, which protected patients from the risk of harm related to the taking of and use of photography.
• The provider did not have effective systems in place for managing risk.
• The provider did not have a service specific complaints policy and it was unclear what the process for raising a complaint was.
• The provider was unable to demonstrate a systematic approach to the annual performance review process and regular staff reviews.
• The policy for monitoring a deteriorating patient was not service specific and did not outline what staff should do when recognising someone becoming unwell.
• There were no clear processes in place for investigating incidents. There was no demonstrable learning from any incidents we reviewed.
• The provider did not have policies relevant to the service.
• The provider did not ensure all staff members were up to date with their mandatory training.

However:

• The registered manager has shown a willingness to learn, improve and develop the service following feedback from this inspection.