Optimax Laser Eye Clinics - Birmingham

Updated 15 May 2023

Optimax Laser Eye Clinics - Birmingham is operated by Optimax Clinics Limited as part of the Eye Hospitals Group Ltd. The service provides optometrist consultations, laser refractive surgery, and follow-up care to adults over the age of 18.

The service provides private care to patients who self-refer and self-pay. Patients commonly present with visual problems caused by cataract or deteriorating visual acuity, which is not classed as a medical condition and so is not treated by the NHS. The service provides consultations for lens surgery but does not yet offer this treatment.

The service opened in 1995 and is part of the Optimax Clinics Limited Company, which was established in 1991.

The service is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

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

The service operates from converted premises on the outskirts of Birmingham city centre. The building is shared with other professional tenants.

We last inspected this service in May 2018. At that time, we did not have a duty to rate and instead produced a narrative report.

Updated 15 May 2023

We have not previously rated this service. We rated it as good 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. 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 and gave 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, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available 7 days a week.
• 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 to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• There were considerable challenges in the upkeep of the environment and the service was awaiting the outcome of a planning application for improvements to the listed building.
• Some common areas and examination rooms were fitted with carpets, which was not in line with Department of Health and Social Care guidance.
• Infection prevention and control standards were not always in line with national standards.
• The management of sharps did not fully meet national standards.
• There were risks to fire safety that had not been identified by the provider’s audit programme.

Updated 15 May 2023

We have not previously rated this service. We rated it as good because it was effective, caring, responsive, and well led. There were some areas for improvement in safe, this was rated as requires improvement.