The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospital
  • Independent hospital

Archived: Colchester Dialysis Unit

Colchester Primary Care Centre, 216 Turner Road, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5JR (01206) 286506

Provided and run by:
Fresenius Medical Care Renal Services Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

15 August 2013

During a routine inspection

We found people gave their consent before any care or intervention was carried out. We saw that people attended the unit to familiarise themselves with the process of dialysis. One person told us, "I was able to talk to a patient already on dialysis." Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of the process of consent and people's rights to determine their care. We saw that where a person lacked capacity to consent for themselves the service acted in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were looked after by caring staff who acted in accordance with their care plan. One person told us, "They have discussed future plans with me and they are offering a transplant." Another person told us, "I am normally on treatment on time; the staff here are so good." People's risks were assessed and their plans of care were regularly reviewed. People told us that staff kept them informed of their treatment.

The service had measures in place to reduce the risk of cross infection. We saw staff washing their hands appropriately and cleaning equipment in line with service policy. Medicines were kept securely and were administered in accordance with the prescription by trained staff.

There was enough staff of different skills and professions to ensure the service provided to people was safe.

15 January 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four people who were receiving haemodialysis during our inspection. They all very much appreciated that they were kept fully informed about their condition so that they felt more in control. One person told us, 'The doctor spent ages explaining how everything worked and how my results linked to the dialysis, my medication and my diet. I felt so much better after I'd spoken to them. It took the fear away.'

One person we spoke with told us that they would prefer to have home dialysis due to the time involved in travelling in to the Colchester unit, but did not want to have to go to Ipswich or Chelmsford for training and support. The current contract with the Colchester Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust did not include a home dialysis service.

People were aware of the holiday dialysis system by which they could travel to other parts of the country and other parts of the world and still receive their dialysis. Two people we spoke with told us that they had used and very much appreciated this facility.

The unit had good systems in place to monitor the standards of treatment and services provided to people. Regular audits were carried out and people receiving dialysis were surveyed about the quality of the services and treatment on an annual basis. The four people we spoke with were very happy with standards within the unit and none of them could think of anything that could be improved.

15 February 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

Three patients with whom we spoke said they were very happy with their treatment and that they found the temperature in the unit comfortable. They said the chairs can sometimes feel uncomfortable but padded overlays are provided. These were brought in by the provider in response to an outcome in the patient survey.

Two of three patients with whom we spoke were complimentary about staff and said they tended to receive care and treatment from the same member of staff. One patient said that they had not had the same nurse for a while and sometimes agency staff were used.

Patients said they are asked for their views and complete the surveys but they are not always made aware of any changes that happen as a result of their input.