A HEREFORD sexual health service has been visited by Care Quality Commission inspectors after problems were found at its last inspection.

Inspectors visited Solutions 4 Health in Hereford's St Owen Street in June after the service was rated as 'requires improvement' for the key questions as to whether it was safe and well-led at its last inspection in April 2022.

Among the issues found, inspectors said they were not assured that Legionella risks were effectively managed, fire evacuation procedures were not clear, no emergency pull cord was found in a patient toilet, vaccination fridge temperatures were not stored correctly, and an emergency medicine, glucose testing strips, and some oxygen masks were out of date at the 2022 inspection.

Leaders were also found to have a lack of oversight on governance arrangements, some clinical staff were not receiving formal clinical supervision, some safety policies and procedures were operating as intended, and processes for managing risks, issues, and performance were not clear.

The consultant-led sexual health service, which provides screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for sexual health-related conditions, and a variety of contraception, was issued a 'requirement notice' at the previous inspection, requiring it to improve the governance of its service.

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But at the most recent inspection, the CQC rated Solutions 4 Health as 'good' in both the safe and well-led categories, with the service having addressed the issues found.

The report said the service had effective systems to assess, monitor, and manage risks to patient safety, there were reliable systems in place for appropriate and safe handling of medicines, and leaders had the capacity and skills to deliver high-quality, sustainable care.

Inspectors found there were clear responsibilities, roles, and systems of accountability to support good governance and management, and there were clear, effective processes for managing risks, issues, and performance.

"Since our last inspection, patient survey results identified that 91 per cent of patients were happy with the service they received and we were provided with a sample of comments from service patient feedback forms which were all positive about the service," inspectors said.