The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • Independent doctor

Practice Based Clinical Services Limited Also known as North Romford Primary Care ENT Service

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Rush Green Medical Centre, 261 Dagenham Road, Romford, Essex, RM7 0XR (01708) 728261

Provided and run by:
Practice Based Clinical Services

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Practice Based Clinical Services Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Practice Based Clinical Services Limited, you can give feedback on this service.

03 June 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection 15 September 2020 Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

We previously carried out a focussed inspection on 15 September 2020 at Practice Based Clinical Services Limited (PBCS). At that inspection we inspected the safe domain and rated it as requires improvement. We found the following concerns:

  • The provider did not have an effective system in place to assure themselves that the facilities and equipment at the sites where they saw patients were safe for patients. Risk assessments submitted as evidence did not all detail areas where action was required or show what action had been taken to address areas where remedial action was required.

  • The system to monitor oversight of required checks for emergency equipment remained ineffective. The provider had not put a process in place to ensure the regular monitoring of safety, in order to assure themselves emergency equipment was safe and ready for use in case of an emergency.

As a result of the concerns identified at the last inspection, we served requirement notices, as the provider was failing to comply with the relevant requirements of Regulation 12, of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Safe care and treatment.

At this inspection, we carried out an announced focused inspection at Practice Based Clinical Services Limited on 3 June 2021 to follow up and check on the service’s improvement within the safe domain and compliance with requirement notices served at the last inspection in September 2020. We found that all the issues identified at the September 2020 inspection had been addressed appropriately.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice now had evidence of all appropriate risk assessments and had carried out the recommended actions. Risk assessments included fire safety; health and safety; premises security; infection prevention control and legionella.
  • The practice now had an appropriate and safe system in place to ensure oversight of the required checks of emergency medicines and equipment.

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

15/09/2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

At the inspection in June 2019 we found whilst services were provided in a way which was generally safe, the service had ineffective systems in place to ensure that the facilities and equipment were safe for patients. We found that aspects of health and safety, including a review of fire safety, infection control, portable appliance testing (PAT), legionella testing and COSHH risk assessments had not been considered at the sites used by the service. We also found the service had not carried out checks to ensure the defibrillators and oxygen cylinders at those sites were suitable for use in the event of an emergency. At our most recent inspection, we checked these areas again and found whilst some of these concerns had been addressed, others remained outstanding.

Practice Based Clinical Services Limited (PBCS) is an independent healthcare service providing medical treatment for ear, nose or throat (ENT) problems, under contract with a local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Our key findings were:

  • The provider did not have an effective system in place to assure themselves that the facilities and equipment at the sites where they saw patients were safe for patients. Whilst some of the deficiencies from the previous inspection had been addressed, risk assessments submitted as evidence did not all detail areas where action was required or show what action had been taken to address areas where remedial action was required.
  • The system to monitor oversight of required checks for emergency equipment remained ineffective. The provider had not put a process in place to assure themselves emergency equipment at the sites where they saw patients was safe and ready for use.

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

  • Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

(Please see the specific details on action required at the end of this report).

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

7 June 2019

During a routine inspection

This service is rated as Good overall. (Previous inspection July 2018 – Unrated inspection).

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Requires improvement

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 Practice Based Clinical Services Limited as part of our inspection programme.

Our key findings were:

  • The service had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the service learned from them and improved processes.
  • Staff involved patients with their procedures and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Patients found it easy to get an appointment at a time that was convenient to them.
  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
  • The service was well managed with supportive leadership. Staff reported an open and honest culture.
  • The service monitored performance and acted accordingly.
  • The service had ineffective systems in place to ensure that the facilities and equipment were safe for patients. We found that aspects of health and safety, including a review of fire safety, portable appliance testing (PAT), legionella testing and COSHH risk assessments had not been considered at either of the clinic sites. Since the inspection, we received evidence that PAT testing had been completed at one of the patient sites.
  • We found the system to monitor emergency equipment was ineffective. The practice had not carried out checks to ensure the defibrillators and oxygen cylinders were suitable for use in the event of an emergency.
  • There was ineffective systems and process to monitor infection prevention and control at both clinical sites. The service carried out informal reviews of the clinical areas however they had not carried out a formal annual infection control audit.
  • Policies and procedures were specific to the service and we found these were reviewed annually and had been implemented.
  • The service had reviewed the monitoring and recording of prescriptions. We found prescriptions were stored securely throughout the service.

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

  • Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

Dr Rosie Benneyworth BM BS BMedSci MRCGP

Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services and Integrated Care

22/03/2018

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 March 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.

Our key findings were:

  • The service had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the service learned from them and improved processes.
  • Staff involved patients with their procedures and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.
  • Patients found it easy to get an appointment at a time that was convenient to them.
  • There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.
  • The service was well managed with supportive leadership.
  • Policies and procedures had been thoroughly reviewed and applied.
  • Staff were valued and appropriately trained for their roles.
  • There was an increasing customer demand for the service from an increasing geographical area.

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

  • Consider reviewing arrangements for monitoring and recording of prescriptions.
  • Consider reviewing how the practice ensures the timely disposal of sharps bins.
  • Consider the implementation of formal meeting agendas and minutes.
  • Consider reviewing policies to ensure they are specific to the provider.