THE urgent treatment center at Lymington hospital has been given a clean bill of health by inspectors.
The UTC has been rated ‘good’ across the board in terms of being safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led after a visit by the Care Quality Commission.
Inspectors rated the GP-led service, which treats people for minor injuries and illnesses, following an announced inspection between 23rd and 27th November last year. They also conducted an on-site assessment on 27th November,
The report found: “Patients were positive about their care and treatment. The service had systems to request feedback routinely from all patients who attended the service.
“This Information and any complaints were used to improve practice and procedures. The service had also taken steps to seek suggestions from vulnerable patient groups to make improvements to the service.”
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In terms of being safe, inspectors wrote: “We found that the service provided care in a way that kept patients safe and protected them from avoidable harm.
“Staff recognizes and responds appropriately to changes in the risks to people who use services. Risks to safety from changes or developments to services are assessed, planned for and managed effectively.”
It added: “There were arrangements for planning and monitoring the number and mix of staff needed. The rotas were managed to ensure staff did not work too many hours.”
The report found the center to be “effective”, noting: “Staff worked collaboratively to understand and meet the range and complexity of people’s needs. The continuing development of the staff’s skills, competence and knowledge was recognized as being integral to ensuring high-quality care.”
Finding one area in which the service could be more responsive, inspectors wrote: “The service recognized the need to offer appropriate environment needs of neurodiverse patients.
“Leaders told us that the service had implemented a storyboard to explain their service for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using links with local specialist schools.
“Feedback demonstrated that these patients had gained a greater understanding of the patient journey.”
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Ross Brand, chief executive of PHL Group, which runs the center for the NHS, said: “I believe that our ‘good’ rating demonstrates our focus on excellence and our promise to deliver quality care to every patient who walks through our door, and I’m delighted that the urgent treatment center is so warmly embraced by the community it serves.
“The center was part of the test program for the CQC’s new framework of inspection, alongside 14 other providers in our area. The new single assessment framework is now in force for health and social providers across England with the aim to provide a single vision of quality for the whole health and care system.”
A PHL spokesperson added: “The ‘good’ rating outcome reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services to the local community. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that each patient receives exceptional care in a safe and supportive environment. The CQC’s rating is recognition of our efforts and testament to staff’s hard work and dedication.
“Lymington Urgent Treatment Center continually strives to improve and expand patient care services to better meet the needs of our community, including recently creating a fast track ‘see and treat’ pathway, to help keep patient waiting times down.”
