During an assessment of Dialysis services
We conducted an onsite assessment visit of Gloucester Royal Hospital Renal Units. We assessed quality statements from the safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led key questions. We rated the service as Good.
In safe, we found a strong learning-based culture with an emphasis on patient and staff safety. Safeguarding responsibilities were understood actively and identified. The unit had enough suitably skilled staff who responded well in an emergency. Staff received meaningful supervision, education and appraisals. Medicines were managed well and every environment we visited was visibly clean. Equipment was well maintained.
In effective, we looked for evidence people and communities had the best possible outcomes with their needs assessed. The service worked well across teams and services to support people. There was input from the local trust and there was dietetic support for the people who used services. The service monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it.
Blood results and other key performance indicators were regularly monitored and discussed to optimise patient outcomes. This showed patients were receiving effective treatment. Consent was actively sought and checked on an annual basis.
In caring, we found people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care. We looked for evidence people were always treated with kindness, empathy and compassion. We checked people’s privacy and dignity was respected, they understood and their experience of how they were treated and supported mattered. We also looked for evidence every effort was made to take people’s wishes into account and respect their choices, to achieve the best possible outcomes for them.
In responsive, we found people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery. We saw people and communities were always at the centre of how care was planned and delivered. We checked the health and care needs of people and communities were understood, and they were actively involved in planning care met these needs. We also saw evidence people could access care in ways to meet their personal circumstances and protected equality characteristics.
In well-led, we found service management and leadership was clear, consistent and supportive. Leaders and the culture they created supported the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care. Staff were engaged with the vision of the service and the service had clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance. The service valued diversity in their workforce and worked on an inclusive and fair culture for both patients and staff members. The service understood their duty to collaborate and work in partnership with other units and external stakeholders.