Updated 16 August 2023
We carried out an inspection of the Central Health Clinic on 10 September 2014. This was part of a planned inspection of the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. The Central Health Clinic operates a number of smaller clinics located within the community. These clinics operate in the same way as the Central Health Clinic and are staffed by a core team, therefore we did not inspect the smaller satellite clinics.
We found the service provided a good quality of care to people who used it.
Our key findings were as follows:
- Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff were knowledgeable regarding their responsibilities for safeguarding children and adults.
- The department was clean and tidy and infection control policies and procedures were in place and followed to ensure the safety of people who visited the department and staff who worked there.
- Care and treatment were provided in line with regional and national guidelines.
- Feedback from people who used the service was sought and the outcomes audited. Action had been taken in response to suggestions made by people who used the service.
- People’s privacy, dignity and confidentiality were respected at all times.
- People who attended the service were positive in their comments about their care and treatment and all said that they would recommend the service to their friends.
- Services were available to people over six days each week and clinics were led by trained and competent staff.
- The department had a clear vision and strategy and staff were positive and proud regarding their work.
- Staff worked as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team, which had positive outcomes for patients.
- Risk management systems were in operation and identified risks were escalated appropriately within the trust.
We saw several areas of outstanding practice, including the following:
- The staff worked well as a multidisciplinary team, both internally (within the department) and with external partners and organisations, for example with Barnardo’s on a project working to combat child sex exploitation and with the police in the sexual referral centre.
- The Bristol Central Health Clinic provided an integrated sexual health service that ensured easy access to services where the majority of sexual health and contraceptive needs could be met in one clinic, by health professionals who worked together collaboratively.
- The service had responded to the needs of people in the local communities for accessible clinics by providing extended opening times, a variety of locations, walk-in clinics and a facility for people to book appointments by texting from their mobile telephones.
However, there were also areas of practice where the trust needs to make improvements. The provider should:
- Ensure that patients’ electronic records are consistently completed appropriately to provide full and detailed information regarding the person’s care and treatment.
- Ensure that regular formal supervision and clinical supervision for staff take place in a planned way.
Professor Sir Mike Richards
Chief Inspector of Hospitals