• Hospital
  • Independent hospital

Archived: Weight Medics Reading

14A Cross Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1SN

Provided and run by:
Silhouweight Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

7 November 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This inspection was to follow up on areas of non compliance found during the last inspection. We did not speak to people using the service on this occasion.

We found improvements against all the outcomes we judged to be non compliant at our last inspection. People were now given sufficient information to make informed decisions about their treatment and medicines were handled safely. New processes ensured that the required recruitment and employment checks would take place. We saw evidence that the provider was putting systems into place to monitor the quality of the service.

5 September 2013

During a routine inspection

The two people we spoke with were very pleased with the service provided by Weight Medics Reading. They emphasised how supportive staff were of their commitment to lose weight. People told us they were encouraged to manage their weight loss through diet and exercise. They said they were given slimming drugs if they needed them and only as part of a wider discussion of their lifestyle.

We found limited improvement against the outcomes we judged to be noncompliant at our last inspection. While the risks and side effects of medicines were explained to people in a way they could understand, people were not advised the medicines they were prescribed were not recommended by professional health organisations for use in obesity management. There continued to be no one in place with responsibility for the overall management and supervision of controlled drugs. There were insufficient arrangements for monitoring stock levels of controlled drugs. Not all the required recruitment and employment checks for doctors were undertaken.

We also found inadequate systems for monitoring the quality of care given to people.

7 February 2013

During a routine inspection

People were satisfied with the services provided by Weight Medics Reading. They told us they were given advice about diet and exercise. People said they would feel comfortable raising a concern with the patient care manager or a doctor about any aspect of their care.

We found the risks and benefits of treatment were explained to people in a way they could understand. Written information about diet and appetite suppressants was given to people. However, people were not advised the medicines they were prescribed were not recommended by professional health organisations for use in obesity management.

Controlled drugs were stored appropriately but no one had overall responsibility for the management and supervision of controlled drugs. There were inadequate systems for monitoring the stock levels of controlled drugs.

Doctors working at Weight Medics (Reading) were registered with the General Medical Council but there was no system in place to ensure doctors continued to be registered. Doctors did not have criminal records bureau (now the Disclosure and Barring Service) checks.

In this report the name of a registered manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulated activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a Registered Manager on our register at the time of this inspection. We have advised the provider of what they need to do to remove the individual's name from our register.