The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Regency Clinic - City of London Branch

64-72 Nile Street, London, N1 7SR (020) 7490 0505

Provided and run by:
The British Fertility and Virility Centre Limited

All Inspections

9 May 2013

During a routine inspection

This inspection was a follow up to the last inspection that was carried out to the Regency Clinic - City of London Branch in February 2013. During this visit we checked to see if the service had achieved compliance in areas that were assessed as being non-compliant at the last inspection. Those areas were in relation to infection control and staff recruitment procedures. People we spoke with at the last inspection were positive about their experiences of using the service. However we were unable to speak with people who use the service on this occasion.

At the last inspection we had taken enforcement action against Regency Clinic to protect the health, safety and welfare of people using this service. This was in relation to staff recruitment procedures. The service had a compliance action for non-compliance in infection control procedures.

The provider had taken action to become compliant in both these areas.

31 January and 5 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with one patient, a patient's relative and viewed written comments including questionnaires from patients who had used the service. Patients said they had positive experiences of the care they received, were satisfied with the service they had received and praised the professionalism and care from staff who treated them.

Whilst the clinic met people's care needs, we found that the service was non-compliant in two out of six outcome areas. These outcomes related to infection control and staff recruitment. We judged that overall this had a major impact on people who use services and action was needed for these essential standards. Where areas of non-compliance have been identified during inspection they are being followed up and we will report on any action when it is complete.

We addressed other concerns with the provider in this inspection. These related to the management of medicines and the clinic failing to comply with regulations to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of information when required to do so. We found expired medicines on the premises. This reflected poor medicines management that could increase risks to patient health. We pointed this out to staff and expired medicines had been removed by the day of our second visit. The clinic did not notifiy CQC about the departure of the registered manager. We have since been notified about this and an acting manager is in place who is being assessed to become the registered manager.

26 January 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

On this occasion, we did not speak to people who use services.

We conducted this inspection to check that the service had made improvements since our previous visits.

We found that the service was providing care and treatment in accordance with its capabilities, used suitable equipment and that appropriate levels of cleanliness and hygiene was being maintained.

However we found that the service was non-compliant with our standards in its recruitment arrangements. There were no employment contracts in place, and appropriate background checks were not carried out for two doctors practising at the service.

18 November 2010

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke to one person who used the service during our visit on 18 November 2010. The person we spoke to was very complimentary about the service she had received from Regency Clinic City of London branch, the staff and the doctor.