We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 March 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 safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

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

Are services responsive?

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

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing safe 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 Hertfordshire Clinic LLP provides private medical service to adults and children. Services include a private GP service, a nurse led vaccination and cervical smear service and a consultations only service with specialist NHS consultants. The Hertfordshire Clinic LLP also hosts a community NHS ultrasound service (provided by STAHMIS Ltd and regulated by CQC) and the Perfect Balance clinic providing physiotherapy osteopathy and podiatry services. We did not inspect the hosted services at this time.

There are three GPs one qualified nurse and a clinic manager who are supported by a receptionist. The practice manager from the adjoining NHS practice has an overview of the clinic’s systems and processes. The GPs, the practice nurse and the practice manager have substantive employment at nearby NHS GP practices. There is a pool of NHS consultants who provide a consultation only service. All clinical staff worked at the Hertfordshire Clinic LLP under a facilities agreement. This agreement allowed them to refer to their primary employer for their governance arrangements which the Hertfordshire Clinic LLP periodically checked and documented to ensure it was valid and effective. Consultations are undertaken by the clinicians on an as needed basis dependant on patient demand.

The Hertfordshire Clinic LLP is open for appointments Monday to Friday from 8.30am till 9pm and on Saturday from 8.30 till 1pm. Patients make appointments with the practice directly in person, by telephone or on line through the clinic’s website.

The Hertfordshire Clinic LLP is not required to offer an out of hours service. Patients who need medical assistance out of normal operating hours are requested to seek from alternative services such as the NHS 111 telephone service or accident and emergency.

As part of our inspection we reviewed comment cards where patients and members of the public shared their views and experiences of the service. There were 12 completed CQC comment cards; patients commented that they were satisfied with the care provided by the practice. Staff were described as helpful and professional. On the day of our inspection we also spoke with a patient attending for their consultation. They told us the service provided was responsive and suited their lifestyle. They described the clinicians and reception staff as listening courteous and welcoming.

Our key findings were:

• The clinic was providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
• There were systems in place for the overall management of significant events and incidents. Risks to patients were assessed and managed.
• There was a process to ensure that care and treatment delivered were in accordance with evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff demonstrated that they understood their responsibilities and all had received training on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults relevant to their role.
• Comment cards and satisfaction surveys highlighted that patients appreciated the care provided by the doctors and staff were described as welcoming courteous helpful listening and professional.
• During our inspection we observed that members of staff were courteous and helpful to patients and treated them with dignity and respect.
• Systems were in place to monitor complaints.