We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 May 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 service provides general practice services, including travel vaccination and family planning. It also provides medical treatment for a number of skin conditions and minor surgery (e.g. to remove cysts). There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of service and these are set out in Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. First Health Medical and Skin Care Centre also offers a range of aesthetic services not regulated by CQC including Botox and laser hair removal.

The lead GP 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.

Sixty-six people provided feedback about the service, and the feedback was wholly positive.

Our key findings were:

• Most risks to patients were assessed and well managed. However, actions taken to manage risk were not all documented.
• Clinical equipment had not been calibrated at the time of the inspection, however we were sent evidence shortly after the inspection that equipment purchased more than 12 months earlier had been replaced.
• Audit was used to check care was delivered according to best practice.
• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• There were arrangements to safeguard patients from abuse.
• Patients said they were treated with care, compassion, dignity and respect.
• Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand. There had been no complaints.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.

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

• Review arrangements for safety management to ensure safety (e.g. fire alarm checks) are documented and that calibration is carried out at appropriate intervals.
• Review decision to only carry out standard Disclosure and Barring Service checks on non-medical staff who are available as chaperones.
• Review training arrangements to ensure that staff receive training to the appropriate level, e.g. in safeguarding and basic life support.
• Review policies to ensure they are complete and up-to-date. Consider developing documented protocols for checking patient identity and communicating with patients’ permanent GP.