The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospital
  • Independent hospital

BPAS Reading

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

121 London Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4QA 0345 730 4030

Provided and run by:
British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

23 February 2023

During a routine inspection

We rated this location as requires improvement because:

  • Mandatory training completion rates for patient safety was below the provider target.
  • Storage of controlled drugs did not meet national guidance.
  • Disposal of pregnancy remains was not respectful.
  • Women did not receive treatment within the timeframes as stated in national guidance.

However:

  • Staff understood how to protect women from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to women, acted on them and kept good care records. The service managed incidents well and learned lessons from them.
  • Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women.
  • Staff treated women with compassion and kindness and respected their privacy and dignity. They provided emotional support to women and their families.
  • The service planned care to meet the needs of local women, took account of women’s individual needs, and made it easy for women to give feedback.
  • Staff understood the service’s vision and values. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. The service engaged well with women and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services.

19 May 2016

During a routine inspection

Staff at Reading BPAS provided care and treatment that took account of best practice policies and evidence based guidelines. The staff provided person-centred care and were kind, friendly and non-judgmental. Staff understood the BPAS values and aims were committed to supporting patients throughout their care and treatment. The service monitored waiting times to ensure they were in line with guidelines. Staff completed training appropriate for their roles and the service had clear governance arrangements. The unit manager and senior managers investigated incidents and shared lessons learnt and they were aware of the Duty of Candour legislation. Staff safeguarded vulnerable people, and were trained to follow safe practices in relation to assessing patients’ risks of harm. This included responding to risks associated with children and young patients seeking abortion services.

Staff ensured they secured consent appropriately from patients, including those less than16 years of age. They checked that patients made independent, informed choices about their treatment. BPAS provided patients with information to enable them to make their own decisions, including a written guide, a detailed website and various leaflets on specific topics. Patients were given information on how to complain and raise concerns, although there had been no formal complaints in the past year. Staff prescribed and administered medicines appropriately, maintained clear, legible records including risk assessments and abortion treatment plans. The unit staff carried out audits to check they followed practices, including audits of hygiene and cleanliness, medicines, the environment, client records and the client pathway. The medical director ensured doctors employed under practicing privileges had the skills, competency and professional indemnity before they were permitted to provide treatments. BPAS updated policies and procedures when improvements were identified.

However, there were risks associated with the environment that had not been addressed in a timely manner. There was carpet in the pre and post treatment room, and the hand washbasin in this room was broken with no date agreed for its repair or replacement. This room was small, with three couches separated by curtains, which risked compromising patients’ privacy and dignity. The unit manager had recently set up a local risk register however there were some areas relating to the management of the premises that had not been addressed in a timely way with the estates department.