We carried out this inspection to follow up on the improvements made following concerns we identified when we last inspected the service in October 2013. At that time we saw that records indicated that people's general wellbeing was not assessed and that their treatment was not periodically reviewed so as to ensure that this was still considered to be appropriate.

We revisited the service in July 2014. We did not speak to any people who used the service as there were no slimming clinics being held on the day of our visit.

We looked at a sample of people's treatment records. We saw that these were completed with appropriate information about the treatment that each individual received. The treatment that people received was regularly monitored and changes were made as appropriate according to the effectiveness of the weight loss treatment programme.

There were no people who use the service present at the time of our inspection, so we were unable to speak directly with them. However, we viewed their responses to the provider’s annual customer survey and these showed that people were very happy with the service they had received at Briarswood Clinic. We saw that the provider had also conducted a second survey that asked people how they would like to see the service developed; for example, whether they would like to have access to a dietician. The provider was reviewing these responses with a view to enhancing the service.

We found that people gave consent accordingly before commencing treatments; however, staff involved in the service should raise their awareness of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its accompanying code of practice. Employment checks for staff were in place and the provider regularly assessed and monitored the service. The provider had adequate safeguarding practices and procedures in place. However, records of patient consultations should be improved to better demonstrate that the care and treatment provided met people’s individual needs.

There were no people who use the service present at the time of our inspection, so we were unable to speak directly with them. However, we viewed their responses to the provider’s latest customer survey and these showed that people were very happy with the service they had received at Briarswood Clinic.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 13 September 2017 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Background

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Briarswood clinic provides a private weight reduction service for adults. Dietary advice, support, and medicines are supplied to patients who use the service. The clinic is open weekly on a Wednesday between 1pm-8pm. The service was located within beauty treatment premises. The cosmetic treatments that are provided are exempt from CQC regulation so we were only inspecting the service provided for weight reduction.

The service was staffed by one doctor, a manager and a receptionist. The manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We received feedback from 21 patients through the collection of comments cards and speaking to patients during the inspection. All patients found the premises clean and the staff professional, caring, respectful and helpful.

Our key findings were:

• Patients were overwhelming positive about the service and found staff professional, caring and considerate
• The premises were suitable and clean
• Prescribing was in line with treatment protocols
• Patients were provided with comprehensive information to support weight loss

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Only supply unlicensed medicines against valid special clinical needs of an individual patient where there is no suitable licensed medicine available
• Review staff training with regard to information governance and confidentiality
• Review the calibration process for blood pressure monitors
• Review the process for sharing information with patients’ GPs and documenting clinical decisions