THE Dorset Heart Clinic has been rated ‘good’ by a watchdog in its first report since its foundation in 2017.

The Care Quality Commission found the clinic, which provides private cardiology services to people in Dorset, provided emotional support to patients and their families.

The report said: “Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.

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“Patients and relatives gave positive feedback about the service. Feedback data consistently showed patients rated highly the care provided by the service.”

Feedback from patients included: “I cannot fault the treatment I received from the staff on the ward, in the theatre and from the administration” and “an excellent service, staff very professional and personable. I couldn’t have wished for better.”

Dr Ohri, CEO of Dorset Heart Clinic, which uses facilities provided by University Hospitals Dorset (UHD), said: “This is our first CQC report since we opened in 2017 and we are extremely pleased that the professionalism and continued commitment to providing exceptional care for our patients has been recognised in this way.”

Dr Jehangir Din, clinical director of both Dorset Heart Clinic and the cardiology department of UHD said: “It was clear to the CQC that we are an organisation that steadfastly prioritises one thing above all else, delivering the best possible care to patients with heart disease.

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“Whatever else changes in the environment around us, patients will remain our focus, and our commitment to them will guide everything that we do.”

Dorset Heart Clinic offers a range of diagnostic tests including ECGs, ambulatory monitoring, echocardiography and cardiac imaging.

The clinic won praise from the CQC for its innovative use of medical technology in delivering diagnostic procedures, and for developing enhanced systems to improve both patient outcome monitoring and patient feedback.

Pete Papworth, designated trust board member of the Dorset Heart Clinic, said: “This report and the overall rating of good is a fantastic achievement for Dorset Heart Clinic since being founded only a few years ago.

“I look forward to working with Dorset Heart Clinic to continue the actions taken following this review to help provide the best services for our patients.”