We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 July 2018 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.

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.

The services are provided to adults privately and are not commissioned by the NHS.

Dorset Private Medical Clinic is registered with CQC to provide the regulated activities: diagnostic and screening procedures; and treatment of disease, disorder. The types of services provided are doctors consultation service and doctors treatment service.

At the time of our inspection a registered manager was in place. 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 21 completed CQC comment cards from patients who used the service. Feedback was very positive about the service delivered at the clinic.

We were unable to speak with patients about their experience of the service they received. This was because, on the day of our visit, no one was receiving treatment regulated by us. We were told approximately 300 patients attended for registered treatments each year.

Our key findings were:

• Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare.
• All treatment rooms were well-organised and well-equipped.
• Staff told us the service was for people over 18 years of age only.
• Clinicians regularly assessed clients according to appropriate guidance and standards, such as those issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
• Staff were up to date with current guidelines and were led by a proactive management team.
• Staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.
• There were effective systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly.
• The provider was aware of, and complied with, the requirements of the Duty of Candour.
• The provider had an effective system for ensuring the identity of clients who attended the service.
• Risks to clients were well-managed. For example, there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.
• Clients were provided with information about their health and received advice and guidance to support them to live healthier lives.
• Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand.

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

• Review whether emergency medicines and equipment should be held on the premises.
• Review arrangements to demonstrate that the clinic is actively seeking patient feedback.
• Review arrangements for business continuity plans in case of service interruption.