Heart & Lung Imaging Limited

Updated 27 September 2022

Heart and Lung Imaging Limited provide teleradiology services reviewing low radiation dose computed tomography (CT) images. The provider reports on behalf of the NHS trusts, private healthcare providers academia and industry partners. The provider mainly reports for the targeted lung health check programme (TLHC). The pilots focused on people aged 55 – 74 years of age. The provider is a remote cloud-based organisation and does not see patients face to face.

Teleradiology is the transmission of images and associated data between locations for the purpose of primary interpretation or consultation and clinical review. The service has no direct contact with patients and does not provide direct patient care. The service reported on adults only.

At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager in place. The nominated individual was also the registered manager.

The service is registered to carry out the following regulated activities: Diagnostic and screening procedures.

The service has not been inspected since its registration on 8 January 2021 and this was the first time the service had been inspected and rated.

Updated 27 September 2022

This is the first time this service had been inspected. We rated it as good overall because:

• Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. The service had processes to manage safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients and had access to good information.
• The service planned and provided care in a way that met the needs of local people and local organisations to plan care. People could access the service when they needed it. Reporting times exceed national standard.
• Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. Staff were clear about their roles and accountability. The service engaged well with their referring organisations and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• The provider had not carried out VDU risk assessments, there were no formal recordings that monitors met the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) recommendations.
• There was no quality assurance programme to ensure monitors were calibrated and quality parameters assessed.
• Policies and procedures did not always reference appropriate national guidance to ensure they were in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance.
• The staffing matrix to record consultant radiologists’ appraisals, revalidation, mandatory training and medical indemnity insurance was not up to date.

Updated 27 September 2022