Background to this inspection
Updated
17 January 2019
Oxfordshire Community Endoscopy is operated by InHealth Endoscopy Limited. The endoscopy unit which opened in 2012, is an independent provider located on the ground floor at Windrush Health Centre in Witney, Oxfordshire.
The service is directly commissioned by local NHS Commissioning Groups and primarily serves the communities of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. The service provides endoscopy services for both routine and suspected cancer referrals (only one CCG commissions suspected cancer activity).
The service has had a temporary registered manager in post since October 2018. At the time of the inspection, a new manager had recently been appointed and was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
This service was last inspected in January 2014 using a previous methodology, all standards were met.
Updated
17 January 2019
Oxfordshire Community Endoscopy is operated by InHealth Endoscopy Limited and provides adult community endoscopy services at Windrush Health Centre in Witney, Oxfordshire.
We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 23 October 2018.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led? Where we have a legal duty to do so we rate services’ performance against each key question as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.
Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Services we rate
Our rating of this service is Good overall.
We found good practice in relation to endoscopy care:
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The service managed staffing effectively and always had enough staff with the appropriate skills, experience and training to keep patients safe and to meet their care needs.
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The service controlled infection risk well and had suitable premises and equipment. Staff kept themselves, equipment and the premises clean.
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Staff completed and updated risk assessments for each patient. They kept clear records and asked for support when necessary. The service had arrangements to recognise and manage risks to patients in line with national guidance.
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The service managed patient safety incidents well. During the reporting period there were no never events or serious incidents.
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The service provided care and treatment based on national guidance and evidence of its effectiveness. The service had received Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accreditation in 2014.
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Managers monitored the effectiveness of care and treatment and used findings to improve them. The intended outcomes overall were being achieved.
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Staff cared for patients with compassion. Feedback from patients confirmed that staff treated them well and with kindness. Observations showed how staff interacted compassionately with patients who were treated with dignity and respect.
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The senior team were available, approachable and supportive throughout recent senior staffing changes.
However
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People could not always access the service when they needed it. Waiting times from referral to test (RTT) were not always achieved.
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We were not assured all staff explained sedation adequately to patients during the pre-procedure discussion.
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The service had a clinical GP lead but no dedicated clinical nurse leadership.
Following this inspection, we told the provider that it should make improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve. Details are at the end of the report.
Nigel Acheson
Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (London and South)
Updated
17 January 2019
Oxfordshire community endoscopy (InHealth) provided endoscopy services for adults. We rated this service as Good for safe, caring and well led and requires improvement for responsive.
We currently do not rate the effective domain for independent endoscopy services.