RE Weight Management

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 complete honesty. They actively listened to concerns about safety and thoroughly investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were always learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.
For example, they included additional information to support patients with using the prescribed pens after identifying some patients had found this challenging.
 

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 that the service users GP was aware that they would be using weight loss medication and ensured continuity of care.
The service followed General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) to ensure that individual data was protected and maintained. They explained how data would be used and how long it would be stored for.
The clinic had a system to retain medical records in line with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance in the event they were to cease trading.
 

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Safeguarding policies were in place and known to staff, who were appropriately trained in safeguarding procedures. The service had systems to record and share concerns quickly and appropriately. Contact numbers for the safeguarding lead and local authority safeguarding team were easily accessible. All staff had received a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check.

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.
Although the service did not see acutely unwell patients, staff understood their responsibilities to manage emergencies and to recognise those in need of urgent medical attention. Staff had completed a range of training to manage medical emergencies. All treatments that we assessed were low risk and patients received full medical assessments to determine they were of sufficient good health to undertake the treatments. We saw the assessment contained sufficient information to determine treatment was safe, including past medical history, current medicines and allergies. Patients were advised on risks related to their condition and actions to take if their condition deteriorated.
 

RE Weight Loss Management is an online independent health service. This quality statement is not relevant for this service.

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.
We found training was up to date, learning needs and development of staff was managed appropriately, and staff were working within their agreed areas of competence.
Both nurses providing regulated activities were registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and were up to date with revalidation. This meant they met regulatory standards and were subject to revalidation of their registration to ensure the delivery of safe and effective care and treatment to patients.
Safe recruitment practices were followed.
 

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.
Patients were provided with information about safely using and disposing of needles and a suitable bin for disposal.
 

The service prescribed medicines for weight loss. We saw that this prescribing met patient’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened.
Nurses prescribed the medicines, in line with current guidelines, after a video consultation with the patient. They produced electronic prescriptions and sent them to a pharmacy for dispensing. Repeat prescriptions were only issued after an appropriate review. Changes in medicines or dosages were discussed with the patient and based on clinical outcomes. Patients had to provide details of their registered GP and consent to the service contacting them before acceptance by the service. GPs were informed of treatment and prescribed medicines. Patients were informed of any risks and side effects and supported with information about what to do in different situations such as illness.
There were effective systems to manage and respond to safety alerts and medicine recalls.