A health clinic in Dundee has been told to make improvements after inspectors found it was failing to ensure medications and vaccines were stored correctly.
Medigold Health, based at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc on Baldovie Road, received an ‘unsatisfactory’ grade after an inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS).
Inspectors noted the service did not monitor and record the temperature of their fridge every day to ensure medication, including vaccines, was being stored at the correct temperature.
The facility previously provided in-house support for Michelin staff.
It now conducts medical consultations and return to work assessments, mainly for people working in the oil and gas industry.
Medigold also offers routine occupational health consultations and travel vaccinations.
‘Unsatisfactory’ cleanliness
The inspection found no documented evidence of cleaning schedules or audits to monitor if appropriate cleaning was taking place in the facility.
There was no documented evidence clinical hand wash basins were being cleaned with the appropriate cleaning solution.
As a result, the report found the service did not comply with national infection prevention and control guidance in relation to cleaning.
Staff training and development
The report was more positive in other areas.
It acknowledged electronic staff files were stored securely; nurses had quarterly one-to-one meetings with the occupational health nurse manager. Annual mandatory training was up to date and recorded efficiently.
Medigold provide feedback questionnaires at reception, giving patients the opportunity to provide insight into their experience.
Compulsory changes to be made
However, the inspection found “no evidence showing how this information was then used to inform service development.
“We saw no overarching quality assurance structures in place, and no system for
reviewing the quality of the service being delivered.”
It was found the facility failed to routinely request contact details for patients’ GPs and next of kin. These details were also not regularly documented in patient care records.
Patients were provided with verbal aftercare advice following the administration of medication.
Yet they were not routinely provided with written aftercare advice about emergency arrangements for any adverse effects.
Medigold was given a list of requirements and recommendations for ways to improve services.
Most must be in place by October 19.
However, the requirement to ensure appropriate processes are in place for the storage and management of medications, particularly temperature-sensitive medications, must be made immediately.
Medigold response: ‘Frustration’
Alex Goldsmith, CEO of Medigold Health Consultancy Limited, said: “Our overall reaction to HIS report is one of frustration.
“We do not feel HIS adequately understands the service we provide.
“As an Occupational Health (OH) provider, we do not provide services to the general public, only to our clients, who are businesses.
“The main services at this clinic are safety critical medicals and management referrals, to assess client employees’ fitness for work.
Comments ‘taken on board’
“However, HIS has described our clients’ employees as ‘patients’ and has treated our clinic akin to a primary care location.
“In our view many of HIS findings are inapplicable/inappropriate in an OH setting.
“Irrespective, we have taken on board the relevant comments from HIS and many of the initial points raised by them have already been remedied, with others in process.
“Medigold Health is accredited by the OH accreditation scheme SEQOHS and provides OH services covering over two million workers across the UK.”
Conversation