We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 27 September 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.

London Hormone Clinic provides treatment for a wide range of hormonal conditions for women.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of the provision of advice or treatment by, or under the supervision of, a medical practitioner, including the prescribing of medicines.

One of the partners 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.

Twenty seven patients provided feedback about the service. All the comments we received were positive about the service, for example describing the doctors as good listeners and sincere.

Our key findings were:

• The clinicians were aware of current evidence based guidance and had the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.

• The provider had systems in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse.

• The provider had effective systems in place to record, monitor, analyse and share learning from significant events.

• The service had arrangements in place to respond to medical emergencies.

• There was a clear vision to provide a personalised, high quality service

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

• Develop protocols for verifying the identity of all patients.

• Review systems and processes for quality improvement cycles such as completed clinical audits.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice