Cataract care at Peterborough eye hospital rated ‘outstanding’ by Care Quality Commission

SpaMedica in Peterborough has been awarded the highest possible rating following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Inspectors noted the high-performing eye hospital, which specialises in NHS cataract surgery and YAG laser capsulotomy, “consistently exceeded expectations and outcomes for patients against relevant national standards.” 

SpaMedica Peterborough achieved its rare ‘outstanding’ rating across four separate service areas, scoring how caring, effective, and well-led its services were, and how well the hospital responded to people’s needs. Staff were praised for their work in supporting patients with dementia, promoting equality and diversity, and creating a warm and welcoming environment for patients and their families/carers.  

During their visit, inspectors spoke to patients and asked for their feedback on the hospital’s services. Patients said their treatment had been “fantastic from start to finish,” described staff as “very efficient and courteous,” and noted the hospital was “remarkably clean.” 

Inspectors went on to praise the hospital’s short waiting times, noting “people could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.” The average referral to treatment time from January 2022 to December 2022 was just over five weeks, compared to a national benchmark of 18 weeks.  

The Peterborough site is one of 47 hospitals across England operated by SpaMedica, the UK’s largest provider of NHS cataract surgery. Since the hospital opened in August 2021, it has performed thousands of NHS cataract surgeries and received multiple 5-star patient reviews on NHS Choices.  

Patients who require transport to and from the hospital benefit from a free door-to-door transport service, which has been invaluable for patients whose friends or family members aren’t available to take them to their appointments. 

SpaMedica Peterborough’s hospital manager, Georgeana Roman, said: “We’re thrilled to receive an ‘outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Peterborough team, who are committed to providing the highest quality care to all our patients. It’s a privilege to help people see more clearly again and we love hearing how cataract surgery changed our patients’ lives for the better. We’ll build on this achievement and ensure our patients continue to benefit from first-class care and excellent surgical outcomes.”   

Peterborough is the 11th SpaMedica hospital to achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating. All 28 of SpaMedica’s hospitals that have been inspected to date have been rated as good or outstanding. 

SpaMedica Peterborough’s inspection report is available to view on the CQC website. Other key findings include: 

• Staff took time to interact with patients and those close to them in a respectful and considerate way.  
• Outcomes for visual acuity following surgery on both eyes were consistently better than national averages. 
• The hospital had a low risk of readmission, and the post-surgical complication rate was low. 
• Staff at all levels went over and above to ensure the comfort of everyone who accessed the hospital’s services. 
• Leaders ran services well and supported staff to develop their skills.