Background to this inspection
Updated
9 October 2023
SpaMedica Doncaster is operated by SpaMedica Ltd. The hospital provides a range of ophthalmic services to adult NHS patients, including cataract surgery and Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (YAG) laser capsulotomy. YAG laser capsulotomy is a special laser treatment used to improve vision after cataract surgery. The service did not treat children. The service is registered to provide surgical procedures, treatment of disease, disorder and injury and diagnostic and screening procedures.
The main service provided by this hospital was surgery. Where our findings on surgery – for example, management arrangements – also apply to other services, we do not repeat the information but cross-refer to the surgery service.
Updated
9 October 2023
This was our first inspection of this service. We rated it as outstanding because:
- The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risk to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed incidents well and practiced shared learning.
- Staff provided very good care and treatment based on national guidance and evidence-based practice. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and recorded good outcomes for patients. Outcomes for patients were significantly better than expected when compared with other similar services nationally. Managers ensured staff were competent in their roles. Patients were given pain relief when required. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients and supported them to make decisions about their care.
- Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, truly respected their privacy and dignity which is embedded in everything that staff do, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families, and carers. People value their relationships with the staff team and feel that they often go ‘the extra mile’ for them when providing care and support. Staff created a welcoming and safe environment for their patients. Patients were overwhelmingly positive about how staff treated them.
- The service planned care in innovative ways to meet the needs of local people and improved patient outcomes by giving significant consideration to their individual needs. It was easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and waiting times were very short, with quick access to appointments and waiting times significantly less then national targets for referral to treatment times.
- Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values and demonstrated this in their work. Staff felt respected, supported, and valued. They were focused on the needs of the patient receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and their local community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to continual improvement.
We rated this service as outstanding overall. This was because we rated safe and well-led as good and effective, caring, and responsive as outstanding.