Chartwell Hospital

This was the first time the hospital had been inspected at individual core service level.

We rated it as requires improvement because:

• We rated three of the hospital’s core services as requires improvement. We rated the hospital as requires improvement for safe and inadequate for being well-led.
• The service did not control infection risk well.
• The service did not store all medicines safely.
• Staff did not always follow guidance when completing the surgical safety checklist.
• The provider did not manage safety incidents well and did not share learned lessons from them.
• The provider did not make sure that all medical staff had completed mandatory training.
• Staff did not always record that patients had consented for their care.
• The service’s governance structure did not ensure performance and risks were managed effectively.
• Staff did not always feel respected, supported and valued.
• Staff were not always clear about their roles and accountabilities.
• The provider did not have a clear vision and strategy.
• The provider did not have effective assurance system in to monitor referrals to the GMC by other organisations for consultants working under practicing privileges.

However:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills and understood how to protect patients from abuse. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Managers made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.