Updated 7 September 2020
We carried out a focused, desk-based review of healthcare services provided by Mountain Healthcare Limited at Bridge House sexual assault referral centre (SARC) in July 2020.
We carried out this review using our inspection powers under section 60 Health and Social Care Act 2008. The purpose of this review was to determine if the services provided by Mountain Healthcare Limited were meeting the legal requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 following an earlier inspection in November 2019.
We found that improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of the regulations.
We do not currently rate services provided in sexual assault referral centres.
During this desk-based review we looked at the following question:
Are services well-led?
We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Services for the support and examination of people at Bridge House SARC who have experienced sexual assault are jointly commissioned by NHS England and the North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner.
Bridge House SARC is located in secure premises owned by North Yorkshire Police. Mountain Healthcare Limited provides health and forensic medical examinations to patients aged 0 and over who have experienced sexual violence or sexual abuse. Bridge House has been accessed by patients aged 16 years and over since 1 April 2016. The 0-15 North Yorkshire service commenced on 1 April 2020. The over 16's service is Police led commissioning and the under 16’s service is a separate NHSE led commissioning arrangement.
The provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide the regulated activities of diagnostic and screening procedures, transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
During our first inspection in November 2019 we identified that the provider was in breach of CQC regulations. We issued a Requirement Notice in relation to Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014; good governance.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at:
https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-2482905967/
This desk-based review was conducted by a CQC children’s services inspector and included a review of evidence and a teleconference with the registered manager, director of nursing and the centre manager.
Before this review we checked the action plan sent by the provider that set out what they would do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We also looked at a range of documents submitted by Mountain Healthcare Limited.
Documents we reviewed included:
- An audit plan 2020/21
- Revised forensic room cleaning spot checks
- Minutes of contract meetings
- Contract performance report 2020
- Local risk register
- Quality manual for SARC managers
- Thematic review reports 2019
- Covid-19 Workplace safety risk assessment and action plan for joint working
We did not visit Bridge House SARC to carry out an inspection because we were able to gain sufficient assurance through the documentary evidence provided and a telephone conference.
At this desktop review we found:
- The provider had updated records to include checks to equipment and furniture.
- A patient screen was reinstalled in the examination room to protect patients’ dignity and privacy.
- Health and safety was a standing agenda item on contract meetings to share updates with commissioners and review actions.
- The provider had produced thematic reports to identify themes and trends arising from serious incidents and had implemented improvements nationally across all of the SARCs they operated.
- The provider had worked jointly with police commissioners to strengthen health and safety arrangements and manage risk in the premises.
- The provider had recruited staff to improve the management arrangements and review health and safety processes.