• Hospital
  • NHS hospital

Moorfields Eye Hospital

Overall: Outstanding read more about inspection ratings

162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD (020) 7253 3411

Provided and run by:
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

All Inspections

Other CQC inspections of services

Community & mental health inspection reports for Moorfields Eye Hospital can be found at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Each report covers findings for one service across multiple locations

14 September 2022

During a routine inspection

Moorfields Eye Hospital City Road is located in central London. The hospital provides comprehensive general and specialist outpatient, diagnostic and surgical services for the local population and for those from further afield who require more specialist treatments not available elsewhere. It also provides emergency surgery, a 24-hour A&E dealing exclusively with urgent eye problems, and a research and education capability. Services are delivered from the main hospital, children's centre and private facilities. As well as providing clinical services it is the trust’s headquarters and home to the trust’s research partners.

We carried out a focused inspection of surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital. We do not rate services following a focussed inspection.

  • The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff kept care records. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
  • People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
  • Leaders understood and were managing the issues the service faced and had a vision developed with staff to do so.

However:

  • Some staff felt they were not supported or valued at work.
  • Due to a recent restructure not all staff were clear of their accountabilities or their lines of reporting.
  • Key policies needed to be reviewed in line with trust’s timescales and there was a lack of clarity about some aspects of managing theatre lists e.g. if a theatre list ran over time.

14 November to 6 December 2018

During a routine inspection

  • We found many improvements in surgery and outpatients since the last inspection.
  • Action had been taken to reduce potential risks to patients undergoing surgery: improved compliance with the World Health Organisation safety check list.
  • Staff followed infection prevention and control procedures and areas we inspected very visibly clean.
  • Staff knew the action to take if they had concerns that a patient was being abused.
  • Care and treatment provided was based on national guidance and evidence of its effectiveness.
  • In surgery, outcomes for some treatments were better than the national standard.
  • There was effective multidisciplinary working in surgery and outpatients.
  • We observed many positive caring interactions between staff and patients in surgery and outpatients. In surgery patients told us staff went above and beyond to ensure they were comfortable.
  • Care and treatment was responsive to the needs of patients. Support was available for people living with a learning disability or dementia and visual aids were available for people who were visually impaired.
  • Access times for surgery from time of referral were better than the England average.
  • The divisional structures had been reviewed and strengthened.
  • Staff told us they were supported by their local managers and were encouraged to access development opportunities. There was a positive culture and staff were proud to work for the trust.
  • There was a commitment to improving services and both services had systems to monitor the quality and safety of care provided.

However:

  • In outpatients more work was needed to improve learning from complaints and incidents and reduce the number of patients who did not attend for their appointment.
  • In surgery the risk registers for theatres did not always reflect risks specific to the service.
  • In outpatients some staff were not aware of the trust’s values or the strategy.
  • The environment in the outpatients was limited and the trust had taken some action to improve it and more work was planned.
  • Vacancies for non-registered staff were above the trust target.

9 -13 May 2016

During a routine inspection

Moorfields Eye Hospital City Road is part of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The trust has 32 centres in and outside of London. It provides a networked satellite model of care at Moorfields Eye Hospital City Road and across three geographical networks: Moorfields North, Moorfields South and Moorfields East. Services provided include surgery, outpatients and professional support to other eye services managed by other organisations.

Moorfields Eye Hospital City Road is located in central London. The hospital provides comprehensive general and specialist outpatient, diagnostic and surgical services for the local population and for those from further afield who require more specialist treatments not available elsewhere. Islington Clinical Commissioning Group is the lead NHS commissioner of services provided by the trust, with over 28 key associates to the contract. As well as providing clinical services it is the trust headquarters.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • There was an open and transparent approach to incident reporting. Staff were encouraged to report incidents but feedback and learning from incidents was variable..

  • Medicines were managed safely with relevant checks carried out.

  • Care and treatment was delivered in line with best practice and staff had ready access to and followed protocols and guidelines driven by national guidelines and best practice. Medical staff contributed to the development of national standard setting and guidance.

  • Patients had access to new and innovative treatments through participation in research studies. At the time of our inspection there were a significant number of studies underway, including: six adnexal, nine age related macular degeneration, three cataract, nine corneal external disease, three diabetic retinopathy, eight glaucoma

  • There was good multidisciplinary team working involving staff from a range of specialities including and orthoptists and optometrists.

  • Staff were aware of the signs of potential and actual abuse and knew the action to take to protect children and adults.

  • Patient risk was assessed but, the full five steps to safer surgery had not been fully Implemented and embedded in operating theatre practice.

  • Patient outcomes were monitored and benchmarked nationally and internationally. The hospital provided information to the World Association of Eye Hospitals’ (WAEH), which compiled an annual report demonstrating the numbers of attendances and interventions in comparison with other eye hospitals globally.

  • Patients had their pain regularly assessed and managed effectively. Child friendly pain assessment tools were used.

  • For patients who were having surgery a range of sandwiches and drinks were available following their procedure. Following surgery c hildren were offered drinks, a choice of sandwiches, cereals and ice cream.

  • Staff had access to on-going training and development and the uptake of appraisals was good.

  • We found caring was good in all the services we inspected and in services for children and young people it was outstanding.

  • Patients described staff as caring, kind and compassionate. Staff tried to reassure patients and put them at ease prior to their surgery. In services for children and young people all staff engaged with children and their parents to reduce their anxiety and reassure them;” they turned a scary place into a friendly place.”

  • Patients and their families told us staff spent time explaining their assessments and treatment options. They didn’t feel “rushed” and had time to ask questions..

  • Psychological and emotional support was provided by staff and the integrated patient support team also gave practical advice and information on services outside the hospital.

  • The process for managing and responding to complaints was well developed. Where possible staff tried to resolve patient concerns immediately. We saw evidence that the findings from investigations were shared with the patient along with an apology.

  • Most services had good governance and risk management processes to monitor and evaluate care.

  • Staff told us they were proud to work for the trust and most felt valued. They were aware of the trust’s values.

  • The hospital provided updates to staff using a range of methods including weekly newsletters and ‘In your shoes’ session where staff were given feedback about patient experience and contributed to discussion about improving the patient experience.

  • Staff in the A&E and pharmacy department staff raised concerns about bullying and harassment and the hospital had taken a range of actions to address the problems in these areas.

  • The environment in the accident and emergency department (A&E) did not meet the needs of children and young people or protect patient’s privacy. There were also problems with the ventilation in the A&E and limited storage space for patient records.

  • Areas we inspected were clean but, space in the outpatients department  was limited and there was insufficient seating for the number of patients attending clinics.

  • The availability of medical records was an on-going issue and temporary notes were used until the records could be located.

  • We found omissions in some patient records including staff signatures and record entry dates.

  • There was a general laser risk assessment however, these were not dated. Laser safety guidelines on the intranet were dated October 1999 and although more up to date guidelines were available staff were not aware of them..

  • The hospital had taken some action to cope with the increasing demand on services; extra consultants had been employed to work in the A&E and audits had been carried out to identify urgent and non urgent attendances and make GPs aware of the services provided by the A&E to reduce inappropriate referrals. Extra clinics were being held in the evenings and on Saturdays to cope with the busy caseloads in the OPD.

  • There were delays with patient flow in some services. In surgery there was significant variation in the number of children undergoing surgery on different days of the week. Outpatient clinics often over ran and patient waiting times were not monitored.

  • Many staff spoke positively about the leadership of their service, although some staff in the outpatients department lacked confidence in the management because of the lack of action to address some of the on-going problems.

We saw several areas of outstanding practice including:

  • Staff’s sensitivity to the needs of children, young people and their families was outstanding.

  • Play staff were able to engage with children on a one to one basis to provide age appropriate activities and distraction when they became anxious. This input was available in all areas of the RDCEC including A&E and outpatients clinics.

  • The written information provided for children and young people was of very high quality. An internet resource had been designed for children and young people, giving information about eye conditions. It was divided into three different age groups and also had an animated eye, a virtual children’s eye hospital and other interactive features suitable for children.

However, there were also areas of poor practice where the trust needs to make improvements.

Importantly, the trust must:

  • Ensure the World Health Organisation (WHO) surgical safety checklist  is consistently implemented for all surgical procedures including the five steps of team brief, sign in, time out, sign out, and debriefing.
  • Ensure adequate audit and monitoring systems are in place to monitor performance and compliance of the five steps to safer surgery safer surgery checklist to guide improvement.
  • Ensure that the quality and safety of the outpatients service are fully monitored, including patient waiting times and clinic finish times.
  • Ensure that risks relating to patient waiting times are fully mitigated.
  • Ensure that patient records are fully and legibly completed, including staff signatures, record entry dates and documentation errors correctly marked.

In addition the trust should:

  • Look for ways to improve patient privacy in the OPD, accident and emergency department and day case wards.
  • Address the lack of storage space for patients’ notes in ED and the administrative office and remove barriers to evacuation.
  • Consider implementing the business plan for an electronic record system and scanning of casualty cards. This will free up space within the administration office and eliminate the risk of trips.
  • Repair the ventilation system within the emergency department.
  • Improve the waiting area for children and young people in the main accident and emergency department.
  • Ensure all staff complete all aspects of mandatory training.
  • Ensure all staff are aware of the incident reporting process.
  • Ensure all staff have knowledge and awareness of the duty of candour principles.
  • Review and update, as appropriate, risk assessments and guidelines for lasers and ensure staff are competent to use them.
  • Ensure staff have the correct training and implement formalised systems to monitor and record staff training information for paediatrics within the theatre department.
  • Improve the availability and storage of medical records.
  • Work to reduce the number of operations cancelled due to theatre cancellations.
  • Develop a strategy for services for children and young people and consider how reporting about plans, priorities and the quality and safety of the service could be improved.
  • Improve the uptake of appraisals and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
  • Consider how documentary information and signage could be improved for people with visual impairment
  • Ensure all staff are aware of the electronic flagging system for vulnerable patients, such as those living with dementia or a learning disability in the outpatients department.
  • Ensure that the environment of the outpatient department is routinely monitored and appropriate actions are taken to ensure patient safety, comfort and welfare.
  • Ensure emergency buzzers are available in radiology.

Professor Sir Mike Richards

Chief Inspector of Hospitals

13 February 2013

During a routine inspection

During the inspection we spoke with 31 people who used the service and 9 members of staff. We also checked the patients' records and observed the environment and communication between staff and the patients. We visited clinics 1, 2, 4, 5 and the Accident and Emergency department. We also inspected the Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre including Children's Accident and Emergency Department and the day case unit.

People felt that staff provided them with information about their treatment. A person said staff gave them 'a lot of time'. People felt that their questions were answered by the staff and they received 'a very good service'. This indicated that patients had information about their care and treatment to be able to make decisions.

People had access to healthcare information through the leaflets and television screens in the waiting areas. People felt that the staff were "effective". One person told us that staff "were thorough, checked everything". People described the hospital as being "second to none".

Arrangements were in place to make sure that patients were protected from abuse. The Trust's safeguarding policy, which had been recently updated, was detailed and most staff were aware of the procedures to follow to record and report any incidents of abuse. We noted that staff had support and training to enable them to provide care and treatment that met people's needs.

7 February 2012

During a routine inspection

Over 7th and 8th February 2012, nine compliance inspectors conducted visits to eleven clinics/ departments and one ward at Moorfields Eye Hospital in City Road as follows:

We visited Accident and Emergency Department (A&E), Clinic 2, Clinic 3, Clinic 4, Clinic 5, Clinic 11, Retinal Therapy Unit, Mackellar Day Care Ward, the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) and Patient Advice and Support Services (PASS). At the Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre, we visited the Children's Accident and Emergency Department and Fourth Floor Children's Clinic. We conducted observations in all the areas we visited, spoke to 42 patients and 18 staff in total and looked at patient records.

Patients who use the services spoke highly of the hospital and of its reputation for providing excellent specialist care, and praised the hard work and positive attitude of the staff. People told us they felt involved in their care and treatment and had sufficient information to make informed decisions.

Very few people we spoke to had concerns or complaints about the service they had received. However few people were aware of the procedures for putting forward suggestions or making complaints to the Trust. The main complaint reported by a small number of people was of long waiting times on occasions in outpatient clinics and in A&E. However waiting times in A&E did not exceed the four hour government target. A minority of patients spoke of experiencing inconvenience when needing treatment and being confused about whether to attend A&E or the clinic where they were previously treated. A number of patients were not clear about how to manage their treatment after advice that staff had given them. However we found no areas of non-compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (HSCA) and some areas for improved practice. This was in order to ensure that the Trust continues to maintain compliance and to build on its reputation of providing a high quality of service to its patients