Updated 29 September 2025
We carried out this announced on-site assessment on 8 October 2025.
The Saturn Centre (SARC) offers medical, practical and emotional support to adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual assault including rape. The centre is staffed by forensically trained clinicians and crisis workers available 24hours a day,7 days a week.
The SARC is managed by Mountain Healthcare Limited and is commissioned jointly by the NHS and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
During the inspection we spoke with the associate head of healthcare, the regional contracts director, the registered manager, an operations lead, a crisis worker and two sexual offences’ examiners. We checked the premises for access, fire safety and cleanliness. We reviewed the SARC’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed.
We assessed 10 quality statements in total under the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions.
We found the provider had met the regulations and evidence showed that people received a good standard of care and treatment. There were effective systems in place to ensure patient safety, welfare and privacy. Patients’ needs were thoroughly assessed, and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance. There was a systematic programme of audits to monitor the standard and quality of care provided to patients. However, staff pre-employment checks needed to be strengthened, and the provision of some medical emergency equipment needed to be reviewed.
The building had been specifically designed to meet all ISO 15189 Standards and Forensic Science Regulator requirements to ensure high quality evidence was obtained to support patients through the criminal justice system.