English Institute of Sport - Bath

This service is rated as Requires improvement overall.

The service was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on 20 December 2011 and this is the first rated inspection since registration. The service was inspected but not rated on 25 June 2012.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

Are services effective? – Requires improvement

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? – Requires improvement

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at English Institute of Sport – Bath as part of our planned inspection programme.

The English Institute of Sport – Bath is part of a wider organisation, The English Institute of Sport Limited, which provides Sports Medicine and Science disciplines to elite athletes who receive funding from UK Sport. The doctors provide routine consultations to do with both sports’ injury and illness to the athletes.

This service is registered with the 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 the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The services provided at this location which are not in scope include: physiotherapy and psychological therapies such as counselling.

The location at the time of inspection did not have a registered manager in place. The provider had submitted an application for a new registered manager which was awaiting approval by us. 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 regarding how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

• English Institute of Sport – Bath is a government funded organisation that provides services that have been purchased by National Governing Bodies for named athletes who are subsequently privately insured.
• The service had developed materials for service users which explained medical procedures and clearly outlined the recovery process.
• There were systems, processes in place to safeguard athletes from abuse.
• The service had systems in place to identify, investigate and learn from incidents relating to the safety of athletes and staff members.
• Information about care and treatment was comprehensive and accessible.
• The premises were safe and suited to the provision of care.
• Athletes were informed of their choices and risks and benefits associated to particular treatments prior to appointments. Consent was sought prior to interventions.
• The provider had a clear vision and strategy and culture that put athletes care at the priority of its values.
• Staff received training in a broad range of subjects related to the provision of care. However, infection prevention and control was not provided.

The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP
Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care