The services provided by this hospital were surgery, outpatients and diagnostic imaging. This was our first assessment of the service since Spire Healthcare Group Plc took over the service provision at Claremont Hospital in 2021.
The on-site assessment was unannounced and was carried out between 22 and 23 April 2025. We assessed 33 quality statements from the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions to give the rating.
During the assessment, we spoke with staff, leaders, people who use the service and stakeholders. We looked at care records, policies and other documents relating to the service.
The service had enough staff to care for people and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills and managed infection risks well. They assessed risks to people and acted on them. Premises, facilities and equipment were clean and well-maintained, medicines were managed well and incidents were investigated in a timely manner with focus on learning and improvement.
Staff assessed people’s health needs and provided good care and treatment with positive care outcomes. They monitored people’s nutritional needs and managed pain relief. Staff worked well together and with service partners for the benefit of people who use the service. Staff monitored the effectiveness of care and treatment and used the findings to make improvements and achieved good outcomes for patients.
Staff treated people with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity and took account of their individual needs and choices. Staff were alert and responsive to people’s needs and provided emotional support to people who use the service to avoid any preventable discomfort, concern or distress. The service had systems in place to support staff with their wellbeing, safe working and emotional support. All staff, without exception spoke positively about the support they had received from managers.
The service planned care and treatment to meet the needs of local people, took account of people’s individual needs and future care plans, and made it easy for people to give feedback about their experiences. Care and treatment was centred around people and their needs. People could access the service when they needed it, in a way that promoted equality, removed barriers or delays and protected their rights.
There were clear governance structures in place that provided assurance of oversight and performance against safety measures. The service had a vision and strategy that was aligned with the health priorities of the local area. Managers and leaders at the service had the relevant skills and abilities to manage the services effectively. Staff spoke positively about the visibility of leaders and the support they had received from their managers. They spoke about how managers and senior leaders were approachable and provided them with good support, guidance and development opportunities.