We saw the required information as outlined in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 was on file for clinical staff and reception staff. The provider had introduced a checklist to ensure that all of the required information was obtained for any newly recruited staff.
Patients told us they were asked for their consent before any procedures were carried out. They told us that staff always explained what they were going to do and checked that they were happy to continue. Patients told us they felt informed about their care and were able to ask questions. Comments included 'The service is marvellous, staff are attentive, and the consultant was very gentle' and 'The service is brilliant; I feel at ease, I can ask any questions and I feel fully informed.'
Patients told us that the service was always clean and tidy when they visited, and clinical staff always washed their hands before and after they had carried out any examination, and wore aprons and gloves as required. We saw the provider had systems in place to maintain good hygiene standards and prevent the risk and spread of infection.
We saw that the provider did not have required recruitment checks and information on file for all staff.
The provider had systems in place for monitoring the quality of service provision. There was an established system for obtaining opinions from patients about the standards of the services they received. This meant that on-going improvements were made by the practice staff.