Edgware Community Hospital - Enter and View

We visited: 

• The Ophthalmology Clinic, which treats patients for a range of eye conditions 
• The Phlebotomy Clinic, which provides blood tests 
• The Ophthalmology Day Surgery Unit, which offers certain types of eye surgery 

All three of these services are provided by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. For context, the Royal Free London Trust and other NHS Trusts also deliver a number of other services in this hospital, but we did not visit them.

Overall, we received very positive feedback from the 12 patients and visitors we spoke to about the service which they received from staff. In the Ophthalmology Clinic, interviewees described staff as ‘helpful’, ‘nice’ and ‘efficient’. In the Ophthalmology Day Surgery Unit, patients and visitors told us that staff had been ‘good’, ‘friendly’ and ‘helpful’. For example, one interviewee praised clinicians for giving a clear explanation of what was happening during their surgery. In relation to accessibility, managers advised us that the services had dedicated liaison officers for patients with learning disabilities and certain other conditions. 

Our recommendations, which are set out on p9, mostly relate to matters such as transport, signage and access to refreshments. In relation to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks of staff, we recommended that the Royal Free London Trust review the frequency of these, and we’re pleased that they have agreed to do so. In response to our recommendations, the Trust are also reviewing their arrangements for hospital transport and the provision of devices for certain staff.