The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • Independent doctor

Pain Consultants Ltd

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Link 665 Business Centre, Todd Hall Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, BB4 5HU 07458 302521

Provided and run by:
Pain Consultants Ltd

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Pain Consultants Ltd 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 Pain Consultants Ltd, you can give feedback on this service.

20 July 2022

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating November 2021 – Good)

The key question at this inspection is rated as: Are services safe? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Pain Consultants Limited on 19 November 2021 as part of our inspection programme.

We rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services and good overall and issued the provider with requirement notices in relation to a breach of Regulation 15 (Premises and Equipment) and Regulation 19 (Fit and Proper Persons Employed) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

The full comprehensive report on the November 2021 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Pain Consultants Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

At our inspection in November 2021 we rated the practice as requires improvement for providing safe services because:

• The provider was unable to demonstrate that all equipment used by the service was properly maintained. For example, in relation to the C-arm x-ray machine, the ultrasound equipment and the radio frequency lesion machine.

• Information specified in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 was not available for all staff employed.

We carried out a focused desk-based review of Pain Consultants Limited on 20 July 2022. This inspection was to see whether the breach of Regulation 15 (Premises and Equipment) and Regulation 19 (Fit and Proper Persons Employed) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 found at our last inspection had been addressed.

For this inspection, we focused on the key question of Safe which we rated as requires improvement in November 2021.

At this inspection we found:

• The provider had taken steps to ensure the C-arm x-ray machine was serviced and provided assurance that the radio frequency machine was not due for service or maintenance until 2023. Furthermore, the ultrasound machine on loan to the clinic had been returned to the supplier.

• The provider had obtained outstanding information for staff related to disclosure and barring service certificates (DBS), proof of identity, evidence of conduct in previous employment, employment history, and / or training.

Please refer to the detailed report for further information

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

19 November 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 at Pain Consultants Limited as part of our inspection programme. This was the first CQC inspection for this location.

Pain Consultants Limited is a private clinic that offers outpatient services for adults. The service specialises in pain management and treats all chronic pain conditions including: headache, facial, neck, shoulder, arm, spinal, lower back, sciatica, joints, pelvic and neuropathic pain. The provider is also able to help with conditions causing widespread body pain such as fibromyalgia and sports injuries.

The clinic has a fully equipped theatre with ultrasound, a laser guided x-ray machine and recovery area.

The lead consultant/medical director 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.

Comment cards to gather patient feedback were not distributed to the provider prior to the inspection in order to minimise the risks associated with the COVID -19 pandemic. One patient attended the clinic on the day of our inspection.

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. Patients were able to access care and treatment from the clinic within an appropriate timescale for their needs.
  • The provider was aware of current evidence-based guidance and they had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their role.
  • Clinical records viewed provided evidence that care and treatment was provided effectively.
  • The service had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • Systems, processes and records had been established to seek consent and to offer coordinated and person-centred care.
  • The provider and staff team demonstrated a positive culture and a commitment to the delivery of person-centred care and treatment.
  • Patients were encouraged to provide feedback and systems were in place to respond to significant events, safety alerts and to act on and learn from any complaints should they occur.

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

  • Demonstrate that all equipment used by the service is properly maintained. For example, in relation to the C-arm x-ray machine, the ultrasound equipment and the radio frequency lesion machine.
  • Ensure that all the information specified in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is available for each person employed.

You can see full details of the regulations not being met at the end of this report.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

  • Document and record training for all staff and clinic checks for emergency medicines and other drugs used and stored in the clinic, water temperature checks, water flushing and routine cleaning undertaken by staff.
  • Develop a fire policy to ensure an appropriate response in the event of a fire.
  • Update clinical records to indicate whether a chaperone has been offered to patients and any involvement and ensure staff who act as chaperones undertake training in this role.
  • Ensure information on how to make a complaint or raise concerns is displayed in the clinic, detailed in the practice brochure and uploaded to the clinic website for patients to view.
  • Review the practice website to ensure the information on the clinic team, opening hours and other information available to patients is up-to-date.

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