Summerhill Health

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

This is the first inspection for this service since its registration with CQC. This key question has been rated as good.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

People felt supported to raise concerns and felt staff treated them with compassion and understanding. Managers encouraged staff to raise concerns when things went wrong. During staff meetings, the whole team discussed and learnt from clinical issues. Staff felt there was an open culture, and that safety was a top priority. The provider had processes for staff to report incidents, near misses and safety events. There was a system to record and investigate complaints, and when things went wrong, staff apologised and gave people support.

Learning from incidents and complaints resulted in changes that improved care for others. For example, following discussion regarding the risks associated with Controlled Drug prescribing, the provider had reflected on their practice and made the decision to cease future Controlled Drug prescribing.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

We found evidence of effective communication across care pathways. Clinical records demonstrated that information was routinely shared with patients' registered GPs where appropriate and correspondence with secondary care providers was clearly documented.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The service shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Emergency equipment was available and maintained. Staff could recognise a deteriorating patient and knew of action to take.

We found evidence that people were involved in decisions relating to their care and treatment. Clinical records demonstrated that staff discussed treatment options, explained procedures and obtained informed consent before providing care. Patients were supported to understand the risks and benefits of treatment choices, including contraceptive procedures and hormone replacement therapy.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

Contracts were in place to ensure the premises were maintained. Health and safety risk assessments and audits had been undertaken and risks identified had been addressed. There was a business continuity plan in place which was monitored and reviewed.

We found that systems were in place to maintain a safe clinical environment. Clinical rooms reviewed were clean, tidy and appropriately organised.

The provider had a risk register in place to address all potential risks and identified ways to mitigate.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies.

The practice had a designated infection, prevention and control lead and all staff had had relevant training. Cleaning schedules were in place and followed. Risk assessments and audits were completed, and actions taken to mitigate risks.

Systems were in place for the management of sharps and clinical waste, including appropriately labelled sharps containers and secure storage of clinical waste. Staff had access to information regarding the management of sharps injuries.

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Staff involved people in reviews of their medicines and helped them understand how to manage their medicines safely.

Clinical records demonstrated that prescribing decisions were informed by advice where appropriate and clinicians took steps to verify information before prescribing higher-risk medicines. The provider maintained oversight of medicine stocks, monitored expiry dates and ensured emergency medicines were available. Leaders demonstrated a willingness to learn and improve medicines governance, including reviewing and changing prescribing practices following consideration of associated risks.