Community Health and Eyecare Limited (CHEC - Northampton)

Updated 15 September 2023

Northampton Surgical Cataract Centre & Endoscopy Services is operated by Community Health and Eyecare Limited. It is an independent health provider delivering cataract surgery and ophthalmic consultations.

The service had performed 704 cataract surgeries and carried out 1,969 outpatient appointments between April 2022- June 2023.

The service also provides YAG (Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) capsulotomy, which is a type of laser eye surgery that is used to treat a specific complication of cataract surgery known as posterior capsule opacification. This problem is caused by development of frosting from new cells forming behind a lens implant after cataract surgery and occurs in around 10% of people.

Eye care and treatment is provided for NHS patients under a contract with an integrated care board (ICB).

The service was not yet providing endoscopy services at the time of our inspection.

The service was located in a newly refurbished premises in a shopping centre. The service was normally open 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday.

The centre is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures

• Surgical procedures

• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury

The provider registered this location in April 2022, and we have not previously inspected it.

The service had a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection.

The main service provided by this hospital was surgery. Where our findings on surgery – for example, management arrangements – also apply to other services, we do not repeat the information but cross-refer to the surgery service.

Updated 15 September 2023

This is the first time we have rated this service. We rated it as ​outstanding​ 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.

• Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, and supported them to make decisions about their care.

• There was a strong, visible, person-centred culture. Staff were highly motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and promoted people’s dignity. Relationships between people who used the service, those close to them and staff were strong, caring, respectful and supportive. These relationships were highly valued by staff and promoted by leaders.

• People’s individual needs and preferences were central to the delivery of tailored services. There were innovative approaches to providing integrated person-centred pathways of care. There was a proactive approach to understanding the needs and preferences of different groups of people and to delivering care in a way that met these needs. People could access services and appointments in a way and at a time that suited them. The service made it easy for people to give feedback and used the learning from complaints and concerns as an opportunity for improvement.

• 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:

• The service had some clinical areas with no hand wash basins and this was not in line with national guidance. This had already been identified by the provider and actions had been put in place to mitigate risk.

• The service did not maintain a written explanation of gaps in employment history for all staff, as is required by regulations to ensure safe recruitment practices.

• Policies did not always have a review date or refer to national guidance. This had already been identified by the provider and a policy review process was underway.

• There was not always evidence that risks on the risk register had been regularly reviewed and updated.

Updated 15 September 2023

This is the first time we have rated this service. We rated it as outstanding overall.
The main service was surgery. Where arrangements were the same, we have reported findings in the
surgery section. We rated caring and responsive as outstanding. We rated safe and well-led as good. We do not rate effective for outpatient services.

Updated 15 September 2023

This is the first time we have rated this service. We rated it as outstanding overall. We rated caring and responsive as outstanding. We rated safe, effective, and well-led as good. Please refer to overall summary above.