Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic

Updated 13 June 2023

Background to Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic

Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic is a private, medical consultant-led service specialising in the diagnosis and management of hearing and balance disorders. The clinic is based in central London and offers consultation and clinical assessments using a range of audiological and vestibular diagnostic equipment.

The service is led by a Consultant Audiovestibular Physician who is supported by a specialist audiologist. Sessional medical consultants also provide consultations, diagnoses and management advice for patients, supported by specialist audiologists undertaking diagnostic testing. This allows the clinic to provide a one-stop testing and diagnosis service. An operations manager provides governance and administrative support.

The service is offered to private patients aged 18 and over and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am-5pm.

Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission to carry out the regulated activities of Treatment of disease, disorder or injury and Diagnostic and screening procedures.

Updated 13 June 2023

This service is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good

Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic is a consultant led private clinic specialising in the diagnosis and management of hearing and balance disorders. The clinic is based in central London and offers consultation and clinical assessments using a range of diagnostic equipment.

The service has a Registered Manager. 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.

We conducted an announced comprehensive inspection at Harley Street Audiovestibular Clinic on 13 March 2023 as part of our inspection programme.

Our key findings were:

• People had comprehensive assessments of their needs, which included consideration of clinical needs, mental health, physical health and wellbeing.
• There were clearly defined and embedded systems and processes to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse.
• The service was tailored to meet patients’ needs and delivered in a way to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care.
• We saw evidence of quality improvement activity. For example, clinical audit was used to drive improvements in patient outcomes. Clinicians also held senior NHS consultant roles and were therefore able to share best practice.
• Leadership and practice management arrangements drove the delivery of high-quality person-centred care.

The areas where the provider should make improvements are:

• Continue to liaise with its Landlord in respect of managing risks associated with a bacterium called Legionella (which can proliferate in building water systems).

Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Health Care