Patient’s overall experience when attending clinic had been positive. For example the two couples we talked with told us “Everything’s been good” and “Staff are nice and friendly.” We reviewed a sample of recently completed patient questionnaires. Some comments included “Staff very welcoming and pleasant” and “Staff made me feel comfortable and at ease.”

We found patients were fully involved in decisions relating to their treatment and care. We found patients privacy and dignity was maintained whilst attending the surgery.

We found processes were in place to safeguard patients from the risks of abuse.

We conducted a tour of the premises and found it was clean and tidy. There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

We found people’s needs had been met by sufficient numbers of appropriate staff.

We found there were systems to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that patients received.

We found patients were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment because accurate and appropriate records had been maintained.

Information about people’s experience of Care Sheffield was gained by speaking with one couple and reviewing a number of completed patient satisfaction surveys. We also spoke with the laboratory manager and two other members of staff and reviewed a sample of patient records and other relevant documentation.

We found that people had consented to and been involved in decisions about their care and treatment. The couple we spoke with said that they had been provided with both verbal and written information in order to enable them to make an informed decision about their treatment. This couple were positive about the clinic and stated that the staff had ensured that they were, “kept well informed,” of their treatment options. Our review of patient satisfaction surveys and the records of six couples evidenced that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that ensured people's safety and welfare.

Our check of records and our conversations with the laboratory manager evidenced that checks were in place to ensure that equipment was suitable for its purpose and was properly maintained and serviced.

We found that the provider had an effective process to ensure that employees were of good character and held the necessary checks, skills and qualifications to work at the clinic.

Our check of records demonstrated that policies and procedures were in place to investigate and respond to complaints appropriately.

We were unable to speak with people who use the service. The service operated a patient survey and these indicated high degrees of satisfaction with the service.