BRACKNELL Urgent Care Centre has been rated as 'good' by the national health watchdog, months after it was told to make improvements.

The Brants Bridge base was inspected by medical professionals from the Care Quality Commission at the end of April, following two previous inspections in August and October last year.

The urgent care centre was opened in 2014 to replace the minor injuries unit at Heatherwood Hospital. 

During last year's visits, inspectors found the service provided was not meeting regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Following a comprehensive follow-up inspection in October medical professionals found improvements had been made but they were still concerned with the effectiveness, safety and leadership of the service.

But when inspectors visited again in April - the report of which was published last Thursday - they found that 'lessons were learned', action points were communicated with staff and most staff spoken to could 'recall learning from recent significant events'. 

Procedures were in place to monitor and manage risks to patient and staff safety and the waiting area had been moved to its original location, in clear view of both the reception desk and nurse assessment area ensuring patients' safety and well-being was continually monitored. 

Inspectors also felt the centre had good facilities and was equipped to treat patients and meet their needs and staff demonstrated a good knowledge of the local population and engaged well with the Bracknell and Ascot Clinical Commissioning Group. 

The care centre was also found to be well-led, with clear leadership now in place and better communication between staff, with emploters reporting they felt supported by management. 

The service took feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on, with increased engagement with independent body Healthwatch Bracknell Forest, which represents the views of the public. 

As part of its inspection, the Care Quality Commission asked comments to be completed by patients before inspectors arrived, and all 39 received were positive. 

However some patients commented they were not clear on the difference between the urgent care centre and the emergency department.

Several comment cards noted the temperature in the waiting area was often hot and uncomfortable but One Medicare Ltd who runs the service replied that it does not own the building and is restricted to what it can do to cool the waiting area down.

It does, however, provide a water dispenser for patients waiting. 

Mary Purnell, head of operations at Bracknell and Ascot Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We are pleased to receive the CQC report which clearly shows that One Medicare has addressed all the issues raised in the previous report, and now have an overall good rating.

"This is an important service for local people and highly valued by patients.

"We will continue to work with One Medicare to ensure the high standards are maintained."