Adonia Medical Clinic

This service is rated as Good overall (Previous inspection April 2018, compliant)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Adonia Medical Clinic as part of our routine inspection programme.

The provider is a private, independent health service that specialises in aesthetic treatment with a particular focus on dermatology.

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. Adonia Medical Clinic provides a range of non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example facial treatments, laser hair removal and dermal fillers which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services.

The lead clinician is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. 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.

During the inspection, alongside the formal inspection process, we spoke to three patients to obtain feedback about the service. Patients told us that treatment plans were always explained clearly and that they felt fully informed; costing was transparent, and patients told us they were treated with care and kindness.

Our key findings were:

• The practice promoted innovative practice within the field of aesthetic medicine by presenting outcomes and learning to peers, and lecturing to both medical students and members of the public.
• The practice had a strong focus on safety and equality for both staff and patients, this was underpinned by comprehensive policies and a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• There was a comprehensive program of risk assessment, auditing and quality improvement processes, including external review of care provision and systems to closely monitor, review and manage significant events, incidents, complaints and feedback.
• There was a comprehensive training and induction programme for staff. Staff were up to date with mandatory training and were supported with protected time to complete extra training. Staff were actively involved in practice governance and guideline review.
• The premises was well equipped and maintained a high standard of cleanliness and infection prevention and control measures.
• The practice was continuously searching for new ways to provide a high-level of care and service to its patients, for example attending training days and conferences to expand knowledge of new treatment and equipment available giving patients access to the latest technologies and most up-to-date services not available.
• The registered manager regularly produces published learning articles.
• The registered manager had a strong focus on high-standards of care and safety within the wider field of aesthetic medicine, demonstrated by development of new best evidence-based practice guidelines that have been disseminated to external peers, and adopting a holistic approach to care that takes into account patients’ physical, emotional and social needs.
• The practice made significant efforts to promote equality and inclusion in care for black, Asian and mixed-race people and improve outcomes for them through practice policy and culture. The practice policies and culture supported both patients and staff to be safe, protected and respected.
• Patients reported high levels of care and kindness provided at the practice. The importance placed on this at the practice was evident from staff interviews and the holistic nature of practice ethos, vision, and policies, which strived to ensure patients were treated in an individualised way.

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services