The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • Independent doctor

Archived: InHealth Diagnostics & Treatment - Royal South Hants Hospital

Brintons Terrace, Graham Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 0YG (023) 8042 5321

Provided and run by:
InHealth Limited

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

All Inspections

23 August 2018

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 August 2018 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 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.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

InHealth Limited provides an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology Hearing Aid Service at the Royal South Hants Hospital under an NHS contract for people aged 16 years and older. Services are accessed via the NHS Choose and Book system and referrals triaged by Inhealth patient referral centre.

The service is registered with CQC to provide the regulated activities: diagnostic and screening procedures; and treatment of disease, disorder. The types of services provided are doctors consultation service and doctors treatment service.

At the time of our inspection a registered manager was in place. 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 about how the service is run.

We received nine completed CQC comment cards from patients who used the service. Feedback was very positive about the service delivered at the service.

Our key findings were:

  • Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure patient's safety and welfare.
  • All treatment rooms were well-organised and well-equipped.
  • Staff told us the service was for people over 16 years of age only.
  • Clinicians assessed patients according to appropriate guidance and standards, such as those issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
  • Staff were up to date with current guidelines and were led by a proactive management team.
  • Staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
  • There were effective systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly.
  • The provider was aware of, and complied with, the requirements of the Duty of Candour.
  • The provider had an effective system for ensuring the identity of patients who attended the service.
  • Risks to patients were well-managed. For example, there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.
  • Patients were provided with information about their health and received advice and guidance to support them to live healthier lives.
  • Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • The provider had appropriate governance systems in place to promote safe, effective and well led service provision.

30 July 2013

During a routine inspection

During our visit we spent time in the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology department. There were no ENT appointments on the day of our visit or for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scans. MRI scans were only performed at the location on an adhoc basis when required.

For ENT patients, the service was run by GP with Specialist Interest (GPwSI) with the support of ENT specialists. Nurse Practitioner Aural Care Clinics were also offered. Having been assessed most patients were managed within the service where possible. We saw on the day of our visit that appointments were arranged to accommodate patients who needed to see the nurse practitioner and then attend the audiology clinic.

We spoke with three patients, and one relative, who attended the ENT and Audiology department. All patients were pleased with the service they received and said the staff were excellent. They told us they had no reason to complain and felt the staff were all very pleasant and complimented the service they had received.

Patient's privacy, dignity and independence were respected. They experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights. Patients were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed. They were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.