The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • Independent doctor

Archived: LINIA Skin Clinic

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

64 Harley Street, London, W1G 7HB 07557 154469

Provided and run by:
LINIA Skin and Laser Clinic Ltd

All Inspections

13 August 2019

During a routine inspection

This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 12 April 2018 – the service was not rated at this time).

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at LINIA Skin Clinic under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

LINIA Skin Clinic is a consultant led dermatology service. The service provides private medical dermatology, and aesthetic procedures to paying patients aged 18 years and over. Aesthetic procedures are not regulated by the CQC. Therefore, at LINIA Skin Clinic, we were only able to inspect the services which were subject to regulation.

The consultant dermatologist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some general exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of service and these are set out in Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Feedback from people using the service was very positive. People spoke highly of the service they received from the clinic and told us they would recommend the service to others.

Our key findings were:

  • There were safe and effective recruitment procedures in place to ensure staff were suitable for their role.
  • People were offered appointments at a date and time convenient to them.
  • People had access to and received detailed and clear information about treatments to enable them to make an informed decision.
  • Staff had access to information they needed to carry out assessments in a timely and accessible way and in line with relevant and current evidence-based guidance and standards.
  • Staff were supported with their personal development but had not completed all core training.
  • There were clear responsibilities, roles and systems for accountability to support good governance and management.
  • There was evidence that the practice took into account feedback from patients.
  • The provider had a clear vision to deliver high quality care for patients.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Consider implementing a business continuity plan.
  • Obtain assurances that delegated responsibilities, such as health and safety checks and emergency equipment and medicines checks are regularly undertaken.
  • Carry out an infection prevention and control audit specifically for the rooms used by LINIA Skin Clinic.
  • Ensure staff complete core training.
  • Review safeguarding flowchart to reflect policies and procedures for LINIA Skin Clinic.
  • Ensure details of how to make a complaint are readily available for patients.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

12 April 2018

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 April 2018 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Linia Skin Clinic is a consultant led dermatology service. The service provides medical dermatology, and also aesthetic procedures which are not regulated by the CQC. Therefore, at Linia Skin Clinic, we were only able to inspect the services which were subject to regulation.

Linia Skin Clinic is located at 64 Harley Street London W1G 7HB, the premises are located on the third floor. The property is leased by the provider, the provider occupies two consulting rooms a shared patient reception area with Harley Health Village operated by Linia Ltd a private hospital.

Linia Skin Clinic provides private dermatology services which are available to any fee paying patient aged 18 and over.

Patients using the service book an appointment in advance. On attending patients are given a registration form to complete, they are then examined. Based on the examination and medical history a prescription will be issued, or patients will be discharged or a follow up appointment will be offered. Patients are seen by the doctor who is registered with a licence to practice, however is not on the specialist register and is not on the GP register.

The service is operated by one doctor supported by an aesthetician.

The service is open Monday to Friday 10am to 7.30pm however the service only provides dermatology on a Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 7.30pm. The service does not offer out of hours services.

The service has a registered manager, a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The service is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide the regulated activities diagnostic and screening procedures and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

As part of our inspection we also asked for CQC comment cards to be completed by patients prior to our inspection. We received 13 comment cards all of which were positive about the standard of care received.

Our key findings were:

  • The provider had a clear vision to deliver high quality care for patients.
  • There were systems and processes in place for reporting and recording significant events and sharing lessons to make sure action could be taken to improve safety in the practice.
  • The service had clearly defined systems, processes and practices to minimise risks to patient safety.
  • Policies and procedures were in place to govern all relevant areas.
  • The service had adequate arrangements to respond to emergencies.
  • Staff were aware of and used current evidence based guidance relevant to their area of expertise to provide effective care.
  • Staff had the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • There was an effective system in place for obtaining patients’ consent.
  • The service had systems and processes in place to ensure that patients were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
  • The service had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
  • The clinic was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Consider implementing a business continuity plan.