Updated 20 April 2026
We carried out this announced on-site assessment on 21 April 2026.
The sexual assault referral centre (SARC) at The Bridgeway offers free medical, practical, and emotional support to children, young people and adults who have experienced sexual assault including rape. The centre is staffed by specialist clinical and non-clinical personnel and is available Monday to Sunday between 09.00 and 21.00. It is based on a local community hospital site in Penrith.
Mountain Healthcare Limited (MHC) manage the SARC, and it is jointly commissioned by NHS England (NHSE) and Cumbria Combined Authority. The SARC covered a large geographical footprint, providing a service to 2 local authorities; Cumberland, and Westmoreland and Furness.
Prior to this inspection we spoke with the NHSE commissioner and MHC regional contracts director for Yorkshire and Humberside, who is the CQC registered manager for The Bridgeway. We also spoke with MHC head of human resources. During the inspection we spoke with the SARC, manager,1 nurse and a crisis worker. We checked the building and looked at the SARC’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed. We reviewed 6 patient records and a summary of feedback the SARC had received from patients and professionals.
We assessed 10 quality statements in total. We found the provider had met the regulations and evidence showed that patients received a good standard of care and treatment. There were effective systems in place to safeguard children, young people and adults from abuse, maintaining the required standards of infection prevention and control, and prescribing and administering of medicines.
Patients’ needs were assessed, and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance. Staff understood the importance of gaining consent from patients and ensured this was kept under review during their time at the SARC.
Staff demonstrated a caring approach and maintained patients’ dignity during their examination. The service was responsive to patients’ different needs.
Members of staff received regular supervision and appraisal of their working practices. We found there was effective leadership and processes for monitoring the standards and quality of care provided were in place.