Baby Acorn Clinic

Updated 14 July 2023

The provider offers a self paying tongue tie service in Swindon. Tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, which is a condition where the strip of skin connecting the babies’ tongue to the bottom of their mouth is shorter than usual. Some babies require a surgical intervention to release the tongue, which is known as a frenulotomy. The provider carries out assessments of tongue function and feeding assessments before carrying out frenulotomy procedures. The practitioners are qualified to provide frenulotomy divisions for babies up to the age of 1 year, however the procedure is normally done on babies aged from new-born to 6 months old. Divisions on older babies with teeth are referred to the local NHS team or to the baby’s GP.

Appointments are offered in a clinic room on the first floor of a privately owns building in Swindon. Appointments in people’s homes can be arranged if requested.

The service has been registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to undertake the regulated activity of surgical procedures since May 2019.

The Registered manager has limited company status and is also one of the clinicians who provides the regulated activity. They are a registered midwife and are registered with the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) for feeding. They are listed as an approved independent tongue tie practitioner with the Association of tongue tie practitioners (ATP).

In addition to the frenulotomy service, the provider offers baby feeding and lactation support services which are not regulated by CQC.

Updated 14 July 2023

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

This was the first time we inspected the service.

We rated it as good because:

• The practitioners had training in key skills, understood how to protect babies from abuse, and managed safety well. The service-controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to babies, acted on them and kept good care records.

• The practitioners followed national guidance and evidence-based practice. They monitored

the outcome of the procedure and gave parents and primary care givers advice and

information on feeding and pain control post procedure.

• The practitioners treated parents and babies with compassion and kindness, took account

of their individual needs, and helped them to be involved in the procedure. They provided

emotional support and feedback about the service provided was consistently positive.

• The practitioners took account of individual needs and made adjustments as necessary.

People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for

treatment.

• The provider ran services well using reliable information systems and was focused on the

needs of babies receiving care and their parents. They engaged well with parents and care

givers and were committed to improving services continually.

• The service had enough practitioners to care for babies and keep them safe. Staff had

training in key skills, understood how to protect patients.

• 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 practitioners

to develop their skills. The service had clear vision and values, and how to apply them in

their work. They were focused on the needs of babies receiving care. The service

engaged well with primary care givers to plan and manage services and all practitioners

were committed to improving services continually.

Summary of this inspection

The onsite inspection team consisted of a CQC inspector who was supported offsite by an operations manager.

You can find information about how we carry out our inspections on our website: https://www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-do-our-job/what-we-do-inspection.

Updated 14 July 2023

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

This was the first time we inspected the service.

We rated it as good because:

• The practitioners had training in key skills, understood how to protect babies from abuse, and managed safety well. The service-controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to babies, acted on them and kept good care records.

• The practitioners followed national guidance and evidence-based practice. They monitored

the outcome of the procedure and gave parents and primary care givers advice and

information on feeding and pain control post procedure.

• The practitioners treated parents and babies with compassion and kindness, took account

of their individual needs, and helped them to be involved in the procedure. They provided

emotional support and feedback about the service provided was consistently positive.

• The practitioners took account of individual needs and made adjustments as necessary.

People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for

treatment.

• The provider ran services well using reliable information systems and was focused on the

needs of babies receiving care and their parents. They engaged well with parents and care

givers and were committed to improving services continually.

• The service had enough practitioners to care for babies and keep them safe. Staff had

training in key skills, understood how to protect patients.

• 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 practitioners

to develop their skills. The service had clear vision and values, and how to apply them in

their work. They were focused on the needs of babies receiving care. The service

engaged well with primary care givers to plan and manage services and all practitioners

were committed to improving services continually.