SpaMedica Romford

Updated 10 October 2022

SpaMedica Romford is operated by SpaMedica Ltd. The service offers cataract surgery and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment. AMD is the most common cause of sight loss in the developed world. The service also offers Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (YAG) laser capsulotomy services for NHS patients. YAG laser capsulotomy is a special laser treatment used to improve vision after cataract surgery. The service did not treat children.

The service is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures.
• Surgical procedures.
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

The service is managed from a central referral and booking centre based in Bolton, directing patients through choice to various clinics in the UK. The service is managed by a registered manager who has been in post since August 2022 and supported by an ophthalmic team which consists of:

• Ophthalmology consultants.
• Optometrists.
• Registered general nurses.
• Scrub nurses.
• Health Care Technicians (HCTs).
• Patient coordinators.
• Managers.
• Porter.

This is the first time we have inspected and rated this service.

Updated 10 October 2022

This was our first inspection of this service. We rated it as outstanding because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risk to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed incidents well and practiced shared learning.
• Staff provided care and treatment based on national guidance and evidence-based practice. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and recorded good outcomes for patients. Outcomes for patients were significantly better than expected when compared with other similar services nationally. Managers ensured staff were competent in their roles. Patients were given pain relief when required. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients and supported them to make decisions about their care.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patient’s individual needs and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values and demonstrated this in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of the patient receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and their local community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to continual improvement.

Updated 10 October 2022

It was the first time we inspected this service. We rated it as outstanding because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to drink, and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.