- Independent hospital
HCA Healthcare UK The Harborne Hospital
Assessment report published 15 June 2026
Contents
Ratings - Surgery
Our view of the service
HCA Healthcare UK The Harborne Hospital is a newly built hospital which was registered with CQC in January 2024. It is part of the larger HCA International Limited who have additional locations around the country. The Harborne Hospital location is the first which has been built in the Midlands region and provides care to patients in Birmingham and the West Midlands. We inspected the surgical services at this location based on our requirement to complete an initial inspection of services after registration. The service provides a range of surgical specialties which includes but is not limited to general surgery, gynaecology, spinal surgery and ear, nose and throat surgery.
During our inspection we spoke with 19 staff which included matrons, consultants, nurses, anaesthetists and resident doctors.
Surgery had never been inspected before, so we completed a comprehensive inspection including all 33 quality statements across safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions. We rated the service as good overall, however we rated effective as requires improvement.
We found:
Safe:
The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of patients, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience although there had been a significant turnover of staff. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines well and involved patients in planning any changes.
Effective:
The service had no data on the clinical outcomes of patients and therefore were not assured patients had safe and effective care and no awareness of where care required improving. However, patients were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of patients’ communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. Patients always had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy. Staff worked with all agencies involved in patients’ care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. Staff made sure patients understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to patients and took decisions in patients’ best interests where they did not have the capacity to make their own choices at the time.
Caring:
Patients were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. Patients had choices in their care and were able to have support from their family and friends. Staff responded to patients in a timely way. The service supported staff wellbeing.
Responsive:
Patients were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. Patients received fair and equal care and treatment. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. Patients were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw from or not receive care. However, we had concerns over the lack of training staff received to meet the needs of patients with dementia and those who had mental health needs.
Well-led:
Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. People with protected characteristics felt supported. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities, however there were concerns around some governance aspects in relation to collating data on patient outcomes. This equally impacted the culture around continuous improvement, although staff seemed keen on engaging with research and looking for accreditation opportunities for the hospital.
People's experience of this service
People were positive about their experience with the service stating staff treated them with kindness, respect and were aware of their individual needs. Information collected by the service also showed people’s experience of the service was very positive.