- Independent hospital
Spire Wellesley Hospital
Assessment report published 13 October 2026
Contents
Ratings - Medical care (Including older people's care)
Our view of the service
On the 21 July 2026 we carried out an assessment of medical care. Medical care included oncology services and endoscopy procedures.
This was a comprehensive assessment, carried out because the service’s previous rating was aged. The last inspection had been completed in December 2016. We inspected all quality statements under the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led key questions.
During our assessment we spoke to staff, patients and families using the service. We observed how patients were being cared for and reviewed treatment records of patients.
Spire Health Care, Spire Wellesley Hospital is an independent hospital located in Southend- on-Sea, Essex. It primarily serves the communities of Essex, while also accepting patients from a wider geographical area through private medical insurance, self-pay arrangements and NHS contracts.
The oncology service was provided from the Ivy oncology suite between Monday and Friday 8 am to 6 pm, with a 24-hour telephone support line available to patients outside these hours. There were 6 rooms dedicated to chemotherapy treatment.
The endoscopy service was a stand-alone unit with oversight and management from the theatre department. The service was working towards a Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) accreditation. This is an independent accreditation scheme that assesses whether an endoscopy unit meets nationally recognised standards for patient experience, safety, quality, and clinical outcomes.
The service had enough staff to keep people safe. The service worked in partnership with system partners to ensure good continuity of care. Staff assessed patients’ risks and took the appropriate action to minimise harm. Incidents and concerns were investigated promptly and learning shared with staff. However, not all staff had completed mandatory training in line with policy
Medicines were stored and managed safely. Patients’ needs were monitored to deliver good care and treatment in line with national guidance and best practice. Staff worked with multiple teams and system partners to ensure effective care was delivered.
Staff treated patients and their families with compassion, kindness and respect. Patients could access emotional and psychological support during treatment and procedures.
Leaders were visible, approachable and well respected by staff. There was a positive culture that supported staff’s wellbeing and promoted development and career progression.
People's experience of this service
During our inspection, we saw staff treat people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their dignity and privacy. Staff we spoke with understood how to deliver a high-quality care. They said the service promoted a safe and positive culture. They supported people with dementia and autism through daily updates and risk assessment processes. The service had applied for Autism accreditation.
The service collected patient feedback using QR codes and forms. There were patient support boards and leaflets with information on cancer care.
Patient feedback for the service was consistently good. We spoke to five patients who had recently used the service. They reported their care was of a good standard. They all said they were treated with dignity and respect. They were included in the consenting and decision-making process of their treatment and care. One patient said "staff from the first to the last were 5 star". Patients who were receiving treatment on site during the inspection said their experience was good. They felt supported and listened to by the medical and nursing staff. They said they were provided with adequate information about their care and treatment.