SpaMedica Chelmsford

Updated 24 November 2021

SpaMedica Chelmsford is operated by SpaMedica Ltd. The service was acquired from another provider in April 2019. The service primarily serves the communities of Chelmsford and the surrounding areas of Essex offering cataract surgery and yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser (YAG) capsulotomy services for NHS patients (YAG capsulotomy is a special laser treatment used to improve your vision after cataract surgery).

The service if provided over 2 floors, the ground and first floor. Clinical services are provided on both floors, the ground floor has an operating suite with one theatre providing cataract surgery, which was the main service provided. The first floor housed the outpatient department, where pre- and post-operative assessments were provided. 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 and injury

The service is managed by a registered manager supported by an ophthalmic team which consists of :

Ophthalmology consultants

Optometrists

Registered Nurses

Ophthalmic technicians

Administration staff.

The current registered manager had been in post since July 2019.

This is the first time we have inspected and rated this service. We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 23 September 2021. To get to the heart of the patients’ experience we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well led.

The main service provided by this hospital was surgery.

Updated 24 November 2021

We rated this service 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. 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 collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to eat and 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, 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.

However:

• We did not see any adaptations to the environment to support patients living with dementia.
• Staff and patients did not always use hand gels when moving between public and clinical areas.

Updated 24 November 2021

We rated this service as good .See the summary above for details:

We rated this service as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.