Community optometrists attend SpaMedica Poole to celebrate the hospital’s ‘Outstanding’ inspection outcome

After recently being awarded the highest grade of ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, NHS eye health provider SpaMedica in Poole welcomed community optometrists last week at an event to mark the hospital’s achievement.

Local optometrists, including staff from Julian May Opticians, Parley Optometrists and Still & Bedford, joined SpaMedica Poole’s hospital manager Kelly Watkins and colleagues on a tour of the site, based at Forelle House on Upton Road.

The celebration follows the CQC’s audit of the hospital, which praised its excellent patient outcomes and rapid referral to treatment times – which were noted as ‘consistently and significantly better than the England average’.

In its report, the CQC highlighted the ‘outstanding’ quality of surgery provided by SpaMedica Poole staff to NHS patients, on 3,225 cataract operations and 268 YAG laser capsulotomies performed in the last 12 months.

Hospital manager Kelly Watkins said: “We were thrilled to receive the highest rating from the CQC and very proud to have been recognised for the service we offer to local NHS patients. It’s a real team effort – everyone is passionate about providing outstanding care and ensuring patients feel as comfortable and confident as possible going into surgery.

“We wanted to celebrate our achievement by welcoming local optometrists to the hospital, offering the chance to discuss how we can provide a fantastic, ‘joined-up’ service for local NHS patients – with much lower waiting times than the national average. Together we can ensure that patients have a great experience, from the minute they go to their optician with an issue to when their cataracts are successfully treated and they get their independence back.”

David Marsh from Hendersons Opticians said: “It’s certainly an impressive set-up – patients report that they have been very well looked after by the hospital team. It’s a wonderful addition to the healthcare facilities in the area.”

Ali Yasen from Still & Bedford said: “The team at SpaMedica Poole are very helpful and always willing to go the extra mile, as reflected in their recent CQC Outstanding rating – congratulations!”

28 of SpaMedica’s hospitals have now been inspected by the Care Quality Commission, with 11 achieving an ‘Outstanding’ rating and 17 being graded as ‘Good,’ consolidating the company’s reputation as a provider of choice for thousands of patients across the country.