This service is rated as
Good
overall.
The key questions are rated as:
Are services safe? – Good
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 Ear Care Nurse as part of our inspection programme.
The Ear Care Nurse is a stand-alone aural care service which specialises in ear wax removal by micro suction, irrigation and instrumentation.
The lead specialist nurse is the registered manager. 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.
Feedback we received from patients who have used the service was positive. We received feedback from 2 patients. They said the service was excellent and spoke highly of staff and their professionalism, care, empathy, support, expertise, and patience. Patients felt fully involved in their care; everything was explained including the risks in a safe, relaxed, and secure environment.
Our key findings were:
- The service had systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.
- The service assessed need and delivered care in line with current legislation, standards, and evidence-based guidance.
- The service treated patients with kindness, respect, and compassion.
- Services are tailored to meet the needs of individual patients and are delivered in a way to ensure flexibility and choice. Patients could access services and appointments in a way and at a time that suited them. Services were tailored to meet the needs of individual people and are delivered in a way to ensure flexibility, choice, and continuity of care. Appointments were available Monday to Sunday between 8.30am and 6.30pm.
- The leadership, governance and culture are used to drive and improve the delivery of high-quality person-centred care.
Dr Sean O’Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA
Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services