- Independent hospital
North Devon Satellite Dialysis Unit
Assessment report published 21 August 2025
Contents
Ratings - Dialysis services
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 27 March 2025
We conducted an on-site, assessment visit of North Devon Satellite Dialysis Unit. We assessed quality statements from the safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led key questions. We rated the service as good. At the last inspection in March 2024, the service was rated requires improvement in safe and well-led and was not inspected in effective, responsive and caring. The service had made improvements since the last inspection and is no longer in breach of regulations. We found the service followed safe recruitment processes and governance processes were followed.
The service had a good safety culture, where patients' care was regularly discussed. There were clear links with the local NHS trust for reviewing patients and transferring care if necessary. The service was clean, tidy and fit for purpose. There were enough staff, and they were appropriately trained for their roles. Staff were friendly, professional and caring. Information was available for patients in several formats. The service monitored risks, listened to patient feedback and responded to complaints. However, we found patient care plans did not always include information about patients' comorbidities. We will request an action plan from the provider upon publication of the final report.
People's experience of this service
People felt they were receiving considerate support from competent staff. People we spoke with said staff were kind, and they were made to feel safe and secure. Patients were able to have visitors during their treatment. One patient stated the unit was like a ‘home from home, the nurses are always smiling’.
The environment was spacious and well designed. Patients thought the service was clean and tidy.