Heart Networks UK Limited

Updated 25 February 2022

Heart Networks UK Limited is based in Manchester and registered with the CQC as a provider in December 2017. They are registered for the regulated activities of treatment of disease, disorder or injury and diagnostic and screening procedures.

Heart Networks UK Limited is an independent healthcare provider. They are a community-based cardiology service working in partnership with the NHS, to provide a primary care led heart service. Regulated activities are undertaken at two locations; however, this report relates to the following registered location:

Manchester Institute of Health and Performance

299 Alan Turing Way

Manchester

M11 3BS

Heart NetworksUK Limited provides cardiology services to patients which are all NHS funded. Heart Networks UK is a Tier 2 community cardiology clinic commissioned by Manchester Health Care and Commissioning for North, Central and South Manchester localities. All patients are referred through the Integrated Care Gateway from GP Practices in the Manchester localities.

Information for patients can be accessed via their website (www.heartnetworks.org). The provider has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the CQC to manage the service. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

There are a team of clinicians who provide clinical sessions. These are consultant cardiologists, GPs with a specialist interest in cardiology, cardiac nurse specialists and a nurse. There is also a business manager, two patient support technicians and supporting administrative staff.

How we inspected this service

Before the inspection we gathered and reviewed information from the provider, which included patient and staff feedback. During this inspection we spoke with the registered manager and the business manager.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 25 February 2022

This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection September 2018 – not rated)

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 Heart Networks UK Limited on 16 February 2022. This inspection was part of the CQC inspection programme to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Heart Networks UK Limited are a community-based cardiology service working in partnership with the NHS, to provide a primary care led heart service. Patients are referred by their GP for assessment.

Our key findings were:

• The provider had good systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When they did happen, the provider learned from them and improved their processes.
• The provider reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence-based guidelines.
• Systems were in place to deal with medical emergencies and staff were trained in basic life support.
• There were systems in place to reduce risks to patient safety. For example, infection control practices were carried out appropriately and there were regular checks on the environment and on equipment used.
• Staff were appropriately trained and experienced to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Staff had access to all standard operating procedures and policies.
• The location of the service provided appropriate facilities for patients, including disabled access.
• There was a clear leadership and staff structure and staff understood their roles and responsibilities.
• The provider had a clear vision to provide a safe and high-quality service.
• There were clinical governance systems and processes in place to ensure the quality of service provision.
• Staff involved and treated people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Patient feedback highlighted high levels of satisfaction.
• Patients could access care and treatment from the provider within an appropriate timescale for their needs.
• Information about the provider and how to raise concerns was available.
• There was a strong focus on innovation, continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

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