Dr Jenna Wa - Skin Surgery Clinic

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.

The clinic was operated by a sole clinician, and no other staff were employed. This enabled ease of communication with the nominated individual. No serious adverse incidents had been reported to date. Leaders 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.

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. For example, reports from medical diagnostics by a consultant dermatologist were shared, where necessary, with people’s GPs especially where the results were suspicious. Referrals and test results were managed in a timely way.

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. Safeguarding policies were in place and known to leaders, who were appropriately trained in safeguarding procedures.

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 person and knew of action to take. People were advised on risks related to their condition and actions to take if their condition deteriorated.

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. This included legionella risk assessments and clinical waste management arrangements. Equipment was calibrated and tested periodically and there were daily check recorded to ensure the environment was suitable to see people. The clinic room was kept secure with cupboards locked to control access. There was a business continuity plan in place which was monitored and reviewed.

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked well together to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. The clinic was operated by a sole medical doctor who was trained as a general practitioner. They renewed their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks regularly and kept up to date with their professional registration and training at the levels required for their position. Their appraisal was conducted annually through their responsible officer; this included their NHS role as a GP, as well as private services through the clinic. There were no other staff directly employed by the clinic; however, they had an agreement with the premises owners to provide reception support to receive attending patients and chaperone if needed. Arrangements were made to ensure any staff acting as chaperones received formal training on this.

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

The service had a designated infection, prevention and control lead and all staff had had relevant training. Cleaning schedules were in place and followed. Only single use sterile equipment was used. We found the environment to be clean and appropriate for the minor surgery activities undertaken. This was corroborated by feedback received from people who used the service, who told us they found the clinic environment to be clean. Risk assessments and audits were completed, and actions taken to mitigate risks.

Dr Jenna Wa Skin Surgery clinic is an independent health service. They are a provider of private minor skin surgery and related treatment and diagnostics. The clinic does not prescribe any medicines. This quality statement is not relevant for this service.