Urgent treatment wins ‘Good’ rating
THE Care Quality Commission has given West Lancashire Urgent Treatment Centre a “Good” rating.
The CQC rated centre “Good” overall and also in all five focus areas, highlighting the service as being safe, effective, caring, responsive and wellled.
Inspectors were particularly impressed by the team’s “outstanding practice” in preparing itself for emergency medical situations by carrying out realtime scenario testing.
The report applauds the systems the UTC has in place to manage risk, the way it routinely reviews the care it provides and its “strong focus” on quality improvements.
It recognises that patients access care within appropriate timescales for their need and that they consistently give positive feedback about their experience.
There is also recognition for the high levels of knowledge and professionalism displayed by staff, who “treat people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect”.
West Lancashire UTC, based at Ormskirk and District General Hospital, is run by Virgin Care on behalf of NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
This was the centre’s first CQC inspection.
Michelle Lee, managing director of Virgin Care in
Lancashire, said: “I am incredibly proud of the urgent care team for the standard of care they give to patients and for always looking for ways to improve in order to ensure we are providing the best service possible.
“The team is committed to making a real difference to people in West Lancashire and I am so pleased that their hard work has been recognised in this CQC report.”
John Caine, local GP and chair at NHS West Lancashire CCG, added: “The Urgent Treatment Centre continues to deliver valued treatment and care to our West Lancashire residents.
“We closely monitor this contract by having robust processes in place to ensure full oversight and quality standards are maintained. We welcome the latest CQC ‘good’ rating.”
The GP-led centre provides assessment and treatment for urgent health conditions such as minor burns and scalds, skin infections and suspected broken bones, sprains and strains; and also has access to X-ray services.
It is open 8am-8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year.