The Care Quality Commission
  • Clinic
  • Slimming clinic

Archived: Southern Slimming & Cosmetic Clinics Limited (Plymouth) Also known as National Slimming & Cosmetic Clinics

23 Mayflower Street, Plymouth, PL1 1QJ

Provided and run by:
Southern Slimming and Cosmetic Clinics Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile
Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

7th June 2017

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 June 2017 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was not providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Our key findings were:

  • Staff told us that they felt supported to carry out their roles and responsibilities.
  • We found feedback from patients was always positive about the care they received, the helpfulness of staff and the cleanliness of the premises.
  • The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Review the risk assessment for chaperoning at the service and staff training requirements if necessary.
  • Review procedures for the calibration of equipment including weighing scales.
  • Review risk assessments with regard to medical emergencies and Legionella testing.
  • Only supply unlicensed medicines against valid special clinical needs of an individual patient where there is no suitable licensed medicine available.
  • Review the process for starting medicines in people with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m2 to ensure that national guidance and the clinic policy is followed.
  • Review the need for a T28 exemption from the Environment Agency to authorise denaturing of controlled drugs before disposal.
  • Review and risk assess the  appropriateness of having a family member as a translator.

8 November 2013

During a routine inspection

We (The Care Quality Commission) conducted an unannounced visit to the Southern Slimming and Cosmetic Clinic on 08 November 2013 as part of a programme of scheduled inspections.

We talked with two people who had appointments at the clinic during our visit and looked at their records, talked to staff and looked at the records of other people who use the clinic.

People using the service told us ' I am happy with the service', ' I was told all about the risks before I started' and ' I knew all of the costs and any increases from the beginning'.

People told us that they had discussed their medical history, lifestyle and eating habits with the doctor during their first visit to the clinic. Health checks were also carried out and if any breaks in attending the clinic took place, an updated health check took place.

People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines. People were made aware of the risks involved in the medicines they were taking.

The clinic employed three different doctors and people may not have seen the same doctor at each visit. Recruitment of staff was robust to ensure people using the service were safe. Staff employed at the clinic did not have any specific training to provide this service but demonstrated knowledge and understanding of their role.

The provider had systems in place to check that its procedures were implemented properly and monitor the quality of the service they provided.

8 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We (The Care Quality Commission) conducted an unannounced visit to the Southern Slimming and Cosmetic Clinic on 8 August 2012 as part of a programme of scheduled inspections. We met four people who had appointments at the clinic during our visit and looked at their records, talked to staff and looked at the records of other people who use the clinic.

One person told us, 'It's brilliant and it suits me' and said, 'It is amazing, only place I have ever lost weight'. We saw people's privacy and dignity being respected and staff were being helpful.

People told us they were happy with the service they received at the clinic. They had discussed their medical history, lifestyle and eating habits with the doctor during their first visit to the clinic. Health checks were also carried out.

People said that they had been given information about the medicines they were prescribed and had been warned about possible side effects. They had been given information about healthy eating and advice about the importance of exercising. One person said, 'Clinic always gives me information on diets and check I'm OK'.

Three people confirmed that they did not always see the same doctor in the clinic because they could not always come back on the same day and the doctor they saw depended on the day of the week they came. The clinic employed three different doctors and people may not have seen the same doctor at each visit.

People told us they get to see their record cards when they visit the clinic for an appointment; this shows the medication dose they are on. Other information was recorded on people's cards about diet, and when these people were asked, confirmed that the doctor had discussed this issue with them.