We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 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?

This service provided safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

This service provided effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

This service provided caring care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

This service provided responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

This service provided 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 the service met the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Uttlesford Health Limited service is provided in the outpatient department of Saffron Walden Community Hospital in four outpatient consultation rooms and one treatment room. The administration of the service is managed from a separate office premise in the hospital grounds. Patients are referred to the service from 10 GP practices in the West Essex area. The service was established to provide quicker access to outpatient healthcare services in the local area. The service reduced the need for people to travel to the main NHS hospital to receive their services.

Uttlesford Health Limited is a registered provider of community healthcare provision.

Community Services provided:

• Dermatology
• Gynaecology
• Cardiology
• Vasectomy
• Micro-suction removal of ear wax

The service provision is delivered from the following location address:

5 Ferguson Close

Saffron Waldon Community Hospital

Radwinter Road

Saffron Walden

CB11 3HY.

Opening times for the service are 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday, and provided by GPs, a registered nurse, an ultra-sonographer, managers, administration and secretarial staff.

The Chief Executive officer at Uttlesford Health Limited is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered persons have a legal responsibility to meet the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. Uttlesford Health Limited provides general practitioner’s with special interest (GPwSI) healthcare services for, cardiology, gynaecology, dermatology, minor surgical procedures, and 24 hour electrocardiogram (ECG) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

The provider is registered with CQC to provide the following regulated activities:

• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
• Surgical procedures.
• Diagnostic and screening procedures.
• Family planning services.

The feedback received from comment cards completed and speaking with patients during the inspection was 100% positive. We received comments about the service from 20 people, 18 of which were from comment cards and two from patients spoken with. Remarks were extremely enthusiastic regarding all aspects of the service on both the comment cards and from the patients we spoke with.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• Significant events were open and transparent, including a safe system for reporting and recording.
• The provider had systems to minimise risks to patient safety.
• Safeguarding policies and procedures kept patients safe from the risk of abuse. Staff demonstrated their understanding and responsibilities.
• Staff followed current evidence based guidance and maintained the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Provider audits were undertaken to show quality improvement for the health services provided.
• Patients reported they were treated with care, compassion, dignity, respect, and were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
• The provider showed they did not discriminate against any patient group.
• Complaints were well monitored and showed actions taken by the provider and patient involvement.
• There was a leadership structure and staff reported they felt supported by management.
• The provider had a lead role to provide leadership and oversight across the organisation.
• Feedback was sought proactively via patient surveys, which it acted on.
• Staff worked well together reporting they enjoyed working as a team.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.