• Hospital
  • Independent hospital

Archived: City Dialysis Unit

Ward 14, City General Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B18 7QH (0121) 507 4014

Provided and run by:
Fresenius Medical Care Renal Services Limited

All Inspections

5 November 2013

During a routine inspection

During our visit to the City Dialysis Unit we spoke with eight people who were receiving dialysis treatment. We also spoke with five members of staff, including the deputy manager and interim manager for the unit.

We found effective systems in place to protect people from the risk and spread of infection and for monitoring the quality of the service that people received.

We were concerned that where people did not speak English as their first language that their consent for treatment had not always been appropriately obtained.

The people we spoke with were generally satisfied with the care and treatment they received at the unit, although some people were concerned about the impact of recent staffing changes. Comments we received about the service included: 'There is nothing you can say against it' and 'They [the staff] do their best.'

20 September 2012

During a routine inspection

During our visit to the City Dialysis Unit we spent time with people who were receiving treatment on the day. People were generally satisfied with the care they received and had confidence in the staff delivering their care. People told us 'The service is alright. They look after us very well' and 'I'm very happy with the service.' However, we found some gaps in the management of people's care such as the monitoring of dialysis vascular access sites.

The people that we spoke with told us that staff were polite and respectful. They told us that staff would explain what they were doing. People attended the unit on a regular basis and generally knew what to expect at each visit. Most people had received dialysis at the referring hospital before they first attended. The managers told us that information about the unit and dialysis treatment was usually given there.

Some people who used the service and staff raised concerns about the current staffing levels. They told us that treatment was not always timely and that frequently treatment sessions would run past the 11.00pm closing time. People and staff also told us how there was less time for patient care following recent staffing changes. One person said 'We don't get quite as much attention as we used to do.' We did see that two new staff had been recruited and were on induction training during our visit. Staffing levels were not adequate to meet the needs of people using the service in a timely manner.

12 July 2011

During a routine inspection

People using the service had confidence in it. They told us that it was a 'good unit' and staff 'look after you here'. They were happy with the treatment they received and they felt safe coming to the unit.

People told us that they thought the staff were 'very good', although one person said they thought staff could improve their communication with them. People said the unit sometimes seemed to be short of staff. They told us that the unit was usually clean and that 'staff wash their hands' or change their gloves.

People told us that they felt they could raise any concerns. They told us that, if they had a problem, they would tell staff. One person told us 'I would see (my named nurse)'.

We were not able to talk with some of the people using the service because they were not able to speak much or any English.