Archived: Sk:n - London East Finchley

Updated 30 August 2022

Sk:n London East Finchley provides independent doctor-led dermatology services, offering many treatments including acne treatment and minor surgical procedures, such as removal of birthmarks, skin tags, cysts and warts. The service also provides non-regulated aesthetic treatments which are not within the CQC scope of registration.

The Registered Provider is Lasercare Clinics (Harrogate) Limited, who provide services from more than 50 locations across England.

The clinic opening times for Sk:n London East Finchley are:

• Monday - closed
• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - 12pm to 8pm
• Saturday – 9am to 5pm
• Sunday – closed

The staff team is comprised of a clinic manager, supported by aesthetic practitioners who all provide only non-regulated aesthetic treatments. Doctors who specialise in dermatology, provide dermatology consultations and treatments at the
clinic subject to client’s individual needs and appointment bookings. Staff are supported by the provider’s regional and national management and governance teams.

The service is located on the ground floor. The premises were modern, clean and decor was in excellent condition. Patients were able to access toilet facilities within the building.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• Is it well-led?

These questions therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 30 August 2022

This service is rated as Good overall.

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good
Are services effective? – Good
Are services caring? – Good
Are services responsive? – Good
Are services well-led? – Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Sk:n London East Finchley on 28 June 2022 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This was the first rated inspection of the service.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has continued to regulate and respond to risk. However, taking into account the circumstances arising as a result of the pandemic, and in order to reduce risk, we have conducted our inspections differently. This inspection was carried out in a way which enabled us to spend a minimum amount of time on-site. This was with
consent from the provider and in line with all data protection and information governance requirements.

This included:
• Speaking with staff in person and on the telephone.
• Requesting documentary evidence from the provider.
• A site visit.

We carried out an announced site visit to the service on 28 June 2022. Prior to our visit we requested documentary evidence electronically from the provider. We spoke to staff in person and via telephone on 28 June 2022. The provider specialises in dermatology treatments and is led by independent doctors. The service offers a mix of regulated skin treatments and minor surgical procedures, as well as other non-regulated aesthetic treatments.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Sk:n London East Finchley provides a wide range of non-surgical aesthetic interventions, for example, laser hair removal and dermal fillers which are not within the CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we did not inspect or report on these services. Sk:n London East Finchley is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide the following regulated activities: Diagnostic and screening procedures and Surgical Procedures.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like
registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our key findings were:

• Leaders and staff had the skills and experience to fulfill their roles in a safe and effective way.
• The provider had comprehensive governance processes to provide assurance to leaders that systems were safe and operating as intended.
• Risk management was deeply embedded in the culture of the service, we saw evidence the provider made improvements when risks were identified.
• There were safeguarding systems and processes to keep people safe.
• There were appropriate arrangements in place to manage medical emergencies. All staff completed basic life support training annually.
• Recruitment checks had been carried out in accordance with regulations.
• There were health and safety risk assessments and processes in place.
• The service proactively sought feedback from patients and used this information to monitor and improve the service.
• The provider had an effective complaints procedure with an up to date complaints policy which was accessible by all staff.
  

Dr Sean O'Kelly BSc MB ChB MSc DCH FRCA

Chief Inspector of Hospitals and Interim Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services