Queen Elizabeth II Infirmary

Updated 3 August 2022

The inspection

We carried out this targeted inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by a single inspector.

People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider has sent to us, such as notifications and outcome of safeguarding enquiries, which the provider is required to submit if particular events occur.

During the inspection-

We had a conversation with one person using the service and a relative of another person. We also spoke with three care staff, the registered manager and the nominated individual.

We looked at a sample of risk assessments and care plans for three people around potential risks they faced from developing pressure ulcers. We also looked at four medicines records.

After the inspection –

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 3 August 2022

The Queen Elizabeth II infirmary provides residential care to a maximum of 11 people. Accommodation is provided in single rooms, with shared living and dining facilities. The service currently has nine people in residence.

This inspection took place on 9 and 15 November 2018 and was unannounced. At our previous inspection on 20 April 2016 the service was meeting all the regulations that we reviewed and was rated as good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

At the time of our inspection a manager was employed at the service and was undertaking the registration process with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager is a person who has 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.

There was an organisational policy and procedure for safeguarding people from abuse. Care staff also had the contact details of the London Borough of Islington, which is the authority where the service is located, if any concerns needed to be raised although none had arisen. The members of staff we spoke with said that they had training about protecting adults from abuse, which we verified on training records and each of the staff we spoke with was aware of how to keep people safe.

Potential risks to people using the service were considered, including individual risks and common risks such as the risk of falls and those associated with people’s healthcare needs. The instructions for staff about how to minimise risks were clear and updated regularly.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. There were policies, procedures and information available in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS] to ensure that people who could not make decisions for themselves were protected.

People were supported to maintain good health. The provider had cancelled the regulated activity of nursing since the previous inspection and any nursing care needed was provided by the local community nursing service. A local GP was available to visit the home if required, although people usually attended the local practice when they needed to. People using the service told us they felt that their healthcare needs were effectively met and gave us examples of how this had been supported by care staff.

People using the service and relatives that we spoke with believed that staff were caring and paid attention to people’s needs. The care plan system had undergone improvements which had been helped by the introduction of a computerised data base which helped to identify when updates and reviews of people’s care were needed.

We observed that communication between people using the service, relatives, visitors and staff was engaging and relaxed. Care staff we spoke with expressed commitment to their work and believed they were respected and that their views taken seriously by the provider.

The provider used a range of methods to monitor the effectiveness of the service. These included document reviews to conversations with people using the service, relatives, the staff team and visits from members of the board of trustees.

At this inspection we found that the home was meeting the regulations that we looked at.