Archived: D-Restricted, Specialist Infant Feeding Support

Updated 13 January 2022

The provider offers tongue tie services in Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, 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 in order to release the tongue, which is known as a frenulotomy. The provider carries out assessments of tongue function and feeding assessments prior to carrying out frenulotomy procedures.

The provider is qualified to provide frenulotomy divisions for babies up to the age of one year, however the procedure is normally done on babies aged from new-born to four months old. Divisions on older babies with teeth are referred to the local NHS team or to the patient’s GP.

The service has been regulated with the CQC to undertake the regulated activity of surgical procedures since 13 March 2019. The registered manager is Miss Diana Victoria Warren.

The registered manager is a sole trader and is the clinician who provides the regulated activity. They are a registered nurse 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, baby massage and baby yoga which are not regulated by CQC.

Appointments are offered at the providers company in Nuneaton. The service also holds an assessment clinic at another location in Leicestershire. Appointments in people’s homes have been suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.

There are up to 11 appointments available each week and bookings are taken via the providers website. These appointments are a mixture of assessments for treatment and for surgical divisions. From 5 April to 30 November 2021 the provider carried out 260 frenulotomies.

Updated 13 January 2022

We carried out an inspection of D-restricted Specialist Infant Support using our comprehensive methodology on 8 December 2021. The service has not previously been inspected.

Our inspection was unannounced. We gave the provider short notice of the inspection date to ensure their availability on the day.

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

This was the first time we inspected the service. We rated it as good because:

• Risk assessments were completed for all patients.
• Infection risks were controlled well.
• The provider followed national guidance and evidence based practice.
• There was evidence of quality monitoring through regular audit.
• The process of seeking and recording consent was thorough and included sufficient information to allow for informed decisions to be made. Separate consent forms were required for photography and for infection control.
• Patients were treated with compassion and understanding.
• There was a high level of aftercare available to parents following their procedure.
• The feedback we received from parents was very positive.

Updated 13 January 2022

We carried out an inspection of D-restricted Specialist Infant Support using our comprehensive methodology on 8 December 2021. The service has not previously been inspected.

Our inspection was unannounced. We gave the provider short notice of the inspection date to ensure their availability on the day.

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:

• Risk assessments were completed for all patients.
• Infection risks were controlled well.
• The provider followed national guidance and evidence based practice.
• There was evidence of quality monitoring through regular audit.
• The process of seeking and recording consent was thorough and included sufficient information to allow for informed decisions to be made. Separate consent forms were required for photography and for infection control.
• Patients were treated with compassion and understanding.
• There was a high level of aftercare available to parents following their procedure.
• The feedback we received from parents was very positive.