We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on Thursday 12 October 2017 to ask the clinic the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this clinic was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this clinic was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this clinic was providing caring clinics in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this clinic was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this clinic 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 clinic was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Southampton Travel Health Clinic Limited offers a range of services including, a full immunisation service, anti-malarial medication, selected blood tests for visa purposes, blood tests for antibody screening and a range of travel health related products.

The clinic offers private consultations (30 minutes or longer) giving clients advice and recommendations for their personal travel plans. Using email the clinic continues to keep in touch with clients during their trip. All consultations are by appointment and are strictly confidential. The clinic staff are members of: The International Society of Travel Medicine; The British Travel Health Association and Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Travel Health Forum.

The clinic is run on a daily basis by a specialist nurse in travel health. The clinic also has two receptionists who divide the weekly opening hours between them. At the time of our inspection a locum receptionist was employed due to long term illness of one of the receptionists.

The clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide the following regulated activities: Diagnostic and screening procedures and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury at 79 Bedford Place, Southampton, Hampshire. SO15 2DF. There is a nominated individual who is also registered with the commission as the registered manager.

A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the clinic. 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 clinic is run.

The clinic is open weekdays from 10am to 8pm Mondays and Thursday. 10am to 6pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10am to 5pm Fridays.

The clinic is located in a converted building near to the centre of the city and has space for two vehicles to park at the front of the building. The building has narrow corridors and stairwells and the consulting room is on the first floor. Where required the majority of treatments can be performed in a ground floor room if the client is unable to access the first floor room.

We received feedback from 31 clients about the clinic. All replies were very positive. Comments included a great swift service, very informative and supportive, environment very safe and hygienic. Clients felt welcomed and safe and treated with care, compassion, respect and dignity.

Our key findings were:

• 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 were aware of current evidence based guidance. 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.
• There was a clear team structure and staff felt supported by management. The clinic proactively sought feedback from staff and clients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of the requirements of the duty of candour.

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.