We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 4 October 2017 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.

Background

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.

We inspected MASTA Travel Clinic Southampton, STA Southampton which is registered as a private doctor service that provides pre-travel assessments, travel vaccinations and some non-travel vaccinations. Some occupational health services are provided to agreed organisations. The clinic was opened in 2013 as part of the MASTA Ltd network of clinics. There are currently three members of staff within the clinic that are all qualified nurses, that undertake vaccinations and assessments. The clinic opens five days a week, but these are flexible and not set days, although the clinic is always open on a Saturday. The clinic is situated in the rear of the shop area of a travel agency in Southampton.

A nurse staff member 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.

During the inspection feedback was collected through comment cards that patients had completed prior to our visit. There were a total of eight comment cards which were all positive regarding the treatment that had been received.

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

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• The clinic had clearly defined and embedded systems to minimise risks to client safety.
• Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• A customer survey showed that clients found it easy to make an appointment.
• The clinic was situated within a travel agency and was equipped to treat clients.
• There was one consulting/treatment room which was secured with a keypad entry door.
• There was a waiting area for clients where travel information and registration certificates were easily viewed.
• There was a comprehensive risk assessment of sole working but there were some shortfalls in the provision of emergency equipment on site.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The clinic proactively sought feedback from staff and clients, which it acted upon.

The area where the provider should make improvement is:

• Review the risk assessment regarding the provision of equipment in the case of an emergency where life support could be required.