Archived: Polmedics Limited - Allison Street

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 9 November 2016, a further visit was carried out on the 30 November 2016 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was not providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We have told the provider to take action (see full details of this action in the Enforcement section at the end of this report).

Are services effective?

We found that this service was not providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We have told the provider to take action (see full details of this action in the Enforcement section at the end of this report).

Are services caring?

We were unable to assess whether this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was not providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We have told the provider to take action (see full details of this action in the Enforcement section at the end of this report).

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We have told the provider to take action (see full details of this action in the Enforcement section at the end of this report).

Background

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the practice was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Polmedics Limited – Allison Street is an independent provider of gynaecology and dental services and treats both adults and children. Services are provided primarily to polish patients who reside in the United Kingdom (UK). Services are available to people on a pre-bookable appointment basis. The practice advertise a variety of other additional services on their website such as cardiology, dermatology, midwifery, psychiatry, paediatric and orthopaedic services however, we were advised at the time of our inspection that these additional services are no longer provided.

The practice is located within the city centre of Birmingham, West Midlands and is located on the first floor of a converted, terraced, commercial property. The property is leased by the provider and consists of a patient waiting room, reception area, an office, a kitchen and staff room, a decontamination room, and dental and consulting rooms which are all located on the first floor of the property. Access to the first floor is by a ground floor entrance and stairwell. There is limited on site car parking to the rear of the practice.

The provider which is Polmedics Ltd is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide the regulated activities of diagnostic and screening procedures, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury from seven locations including Allison Street – Birmingham.

The practice holds a list of registered patients and offers services to patients who reside in Birmingham and surrounding areas but also to patients who live in other areas of England who require their services. The provider provides regulated activities from seven different locations. We were informed by the provider that there are approximately 33,000 registered patients across all Polmedics Limited locations.

At the time of our inspection, we were informed that the registered manager had left employment. The provider had not ensured that the registered manager had submitted an application to be removed. New applications had not been made to ensure a current registered manager was in place. (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).

At the time of our inspection, the practice employed seven dentists, three gynaecologists, four receptionists/trainee dental nurses and one registered nurse who provides phlebotomy services. Staff were supported by an operational manager who was based from a different location. Some clinicians including dentists and gynaecologists working in the practice live in Poland and travel to England on a regular basis to carry out shifts at Polmedics Limited – Allison Street.

The practice provides appointment from 9am until 9pm Monday to Sunday. We were informed that the practice may close at short notice if there is no demand for appointments.

The provider is not required to offer an out of hours service. Patients who need emergency medical assistance out of corporate operating hours are requested to seek assistance from alternative services such as the NHS 111 telephone service or accident and emergency. This is detailed on the practice website.

Our key findings were:

• Patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not in place to keep them safe. For example, those relating to Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS check). (DBS checks identify whether a person has a criminal record or is on an official list of people barred from working in roles where they may have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable). Not all dentists and doctors had a current DBS check in place.
• The provider had not ensured that adequate medical indemnity insurance was in place or that appropriate checks of current insurance had been carried out on all clinicians upon commencement of employment.
• Paper based, hand written, patient care records were written mainly in Polish, some records written by individual clinicians were either illegible, not appropriately signed and did not always contain full and detailed information in relation to the consultation.
• There was not an effective system in place for obtaining written consent from patients for invasive procedures, not all consent forms were signed or dated.
• Arrangements to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from abuse did not reflect relevant legislation and local requirements. Not all doctors and dentists had completed up to date safeguarding training.
• There was not an effective system in place for the reporting and investigation of incidents or lessons learned as a result.
• The practice did not hold regular, formal multi-disciplinary or team meetings, meetings that did take place were ad-hoc and were not minuted.
• There was no formal process in place to ensure all members of staff received an appraisal. Doctors did not have a responsible officer in place.
• We were not assured that staff were supported by the provider in their continued professional development (CPD).
• There was no evidence of formal clinical supervision, mentorship and support in place for all members of staff including trainee dental nurses.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Complaints were fully investigated and patients responded to with an apology and full explanation. Refunds were given to patients where the practice deemed appropriate to do so.
• Not all risks to patients were assessed and well managed. The practice did not have a risk register in place. The practice did not have risk assessments in place to monitor the safety of the premises. The practice did not always maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
• There was very limited evidence that staff had received training appropriate to their roles, including update training in infection control, dental radiography, safeguarding and dealing with medical emergencies in the dental chair.
• The practice held medicines and life-saving equipment for dealing with medical emergencies in a primary care setting, although there were some gaps with respect to the recommended emergency medicines and equipment. Not all members of staff including doctors and dentists had completed basic life support training.
• The practice did not have an effective process in place to ensure patients were informed of their pathology results including those that were urgent or positive in a timely way.
• The practice had limited formal governance arrangements in place. The practice did not have an effective, documented business plan in place. Patient outcomes were hard to identify as little or no reference was made to audits or quality improvement.
• The practice had a number of policies and procedures in place to govern activity, but some of these required updating.
• The provider had not ensured that a registered manager was in place. It is a requirement of registration with the Care Quality Commission where regulated activities are provided to have a registered manager in place.

We identified regulations that were not being met and the provider must:

• Ensure the practice's recruitment policy and procedures are suitable and the recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.
• Ensure that a system is in place to ensure all clinicians have adequate medical indemnity insurance in place and that appropriate checks of clinicians own insurance is carried out upon commencement of employment.
• Ensure all staff complete all essential training requirements and that a system for collating the records of training, learning and development needs of staff members is established.
• Ensure there is effective clinical leadership in place and a system of clinical supervision/mentorship for all clinical staff.
• Ensure effective governance arrangements are in place in relation to information governance including systems to monitor patient care records to ensure that patient information is recorded in line with the ‘Records Management Code of Practice for Health and Social Care 2016. Ensure that an accurate, complete and contemporaneous record is maintained for every patient.
• Ensure that patient safety alerts (including MHRA) are received by the practice, and then actioned if relevant. Put systems in place to ensure all clinicians are kept up to date with national guidance and guidelines.
• Ensure that there are appropriate systems in place to properly assess and mitigate against risks including risks associated with infection prevention and control and emergency situations. Review the availability of a mercury spillage and bodily fluids spillage kit. Review procedures to ensure compliance with the practice annual statement in relation to infection prevention control required under The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance
• Ensure a record is held of Hepatitis B status for clinical members of staff who have direct contact with patients’ blood for example through contact with sharps.
• Ensure a review is undertaken of the availability of medicines, staff training and equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team. Specifically ensuring the availability of buccal Midazolam for dealing with epileptic seizures, a volumetric spacer for use with the recommended inhaler and child chest pads for the automated external defibrillator.
• Ensure a review is undertaken for the process of obtaining written consent ensuring consent is recorded appropriately and patients sign these forms when consent is required.
• Ensure appropriate systems are in place to meet health and safety regulations with respect to fire; including the maintenance of emergency lighting and fire alarm systems.
• Ensure a review is undertaken of chaperone arrangements and the policy in particular for gynaecology services, and in particular ensuring that chaperone training is undertaken by staff who perform chaperone duties.
• Ensure a review is undertaken for the process of informing patients of pathology results including those that are urgent or positive, so that results are given to patients in a timely way.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review processes for ensuring fees are explained to patients prior to the procedure to enable patients to make informed decisions about their care.
• Review the availability of hearing loops for patients who are hard of hearing.
• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. The practice should also review the frequency of protein testing associated with the ultrasonic cleaning bath in line with HTM 01 05 guidelines so that these are carried out weekly rather than monthly.
• Ensure a system of appraisals is in place to ensure all members of staff receive an appraisal at least annually.
• Ensure appropriate policies and procedures are implemented, relevant to the practice ensuring all staff are aware of and understand them.
• Review the provision of translation services for service users and members of staff.
• Review processes for collecting and acting upon patient and staff feedback.

On the 11 November 2016, the Commission served an urgent notice of decision to impose conditions upon the registration of this service provider in respect of a regulated activity. The following conditions were imposed:

• The registered person must not provide any services under the regulated activity of diagnostic and screening procedures, surgical procedures, maternity and midwifery and treatment of disease, disorder or injury until 11 January 2017.
• Submission of a written infection prevention and control action plan to include dates for completion of each action to be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Friday 18 November 2016.
• Submission of a written record of all staff who work at Polmedics Limited – Allison Street including all clinicians, to include details of professional registrations and qualifications. To be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Tuesday 15 November 2016.
• Submission of a written record of training undertaken by all staff working at Polmedics Limited – Allison Street to include infection control, safeguarding children and adults, chaperone and basic life support training. To be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Tuesday 15 November 2016.
• Submission of a detailed written record of all services provided at Polmedics Limited – Allison Street and details of which clinicians are required to carry out these services. To be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Tuesday 15 November 2016.
• Submission to the Care Quality Commission written evidence of disclosure and barring service checks (DBS) for all clinicians including phlebotomists and dental nurses. Submission of written evidence of the policy and processes in place in relation to either the application or verification of disclosure and barring service checks for new employees including the policy for DBS checks for non-clinical staff. To be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Tuesday 15 November 2016.
• Submission of a written record to the Care Quality Commission of evidence of the completion of a check with relevant professional bodies including the General Medical Council, the General Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the registration status of all clinically qualified professionals. To be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Tuesday 15 November 2016.
• Submission of a written action plan in relation to premises maintenance to include dates for completion of each action to be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Friday 18 November 2016. Actions to include conformity with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. How damaged ceiling tiles and areas of damaged flooring will be addressed and areas of damaged and unsuitable work surfaces in the decontamination room which present an infection control risk. Actions also to include trip hazards on the flooring within the doorway to the ultrasound room, exposed screws in the doorframe of the gynaecology room, and evidence of gas safety checks to be provided.
• Submission of a written action plan to ensure patient care records are compliant with the ‘Records Management Code of Practice for Health and Social Care 2016’ to be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Friday 18 November 2016.
• Submission of your policy or protocol in relation to patient consent and a written action plan to address concerns found regarding incomplete consent forms during the Care Quality Commission inspection on 9 November 2016. Action plan to be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Friday 18 November 2016.
• Submission to the Care Quality Commission evidence of your chaperone procedure including names of those who act as a chaperone including evidence of chaperone training for these members of staff. Evidence to be submitted to the Care Quality Commission by 10am on Tuesday 15 November 2016

On the 19 December 2016, the provider took actions to temporarily close all Polmedics Ltd locations which included Polmedics Limited – Allison Street until 31 January 2017.