We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Meriden Advanced Imaging Centre on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Meriden Advanced Imaging Centre, you can give feedback on this service.
The Meriden Advanced Imaging Centre is operated by United Medical Enterprises Group (UME).
The service provides diagnostic imaging through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised tomography (CT) scanning only.
The Meriden Advanced Imaging Centre registered with the CQC in 2011. It was last inspected in February 2013 under the previous CQC methodology, but not rated. At the time, the service met the standards it was measured against.
We inspected this service under our independent single speciality diagnostic framework and using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 7 May 2019.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led? Where we have a legal duty to do so we rate services’ performance against each key question as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.
Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
The main service provided was diagnostic MRI and CT scans.
Services we rate
We have not previously rated this service. At this inspection we rated it as Good overall.
We found the following areas of good practice:
The service provided mandatory training in key skills to all staff and made sure everyone completed it.
Staff understood how to protect patients from abuse and the service worked well with other agencies to do so.
The service had suitable premises and equipment and looked after them well.
The service had appropriate arrangements in place to manage risks to patients and visitors.
Staff kept detailed records of patients’ care and treatment. Records were clear, up-to-date, and easily available to all staff providing care.
The service managed patient safety incidents well, and staff recognised and reported them appropriately.
The service provided care and treatment based on national guidance and evidence of its effectiveness.
Staff cared for patients with compassion.
The service planned and provided services in a way that met the needs of local people.
People could access the service when they needed it.
Managers at all levels in the service had the right skills and abilities to run a service providing high-quality sustainable care.
The registered manager across the service promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.
However,
Agency staff’s equipment competencies were not formally recorded. This was rectified during the inspection period.
Following this inspection, we told the provider that it should make an improvement, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve.
Nigel Acheson
Appointments for scans are made within 24 hours of receiving a referral and each appointment is scheduled for an hour.
The service is staffed by a team of professional friendly staff led by a lead radiographer and are supported by an administration team.
People are informed and reassured throughout the procedure. Safety procedures are adhered to and staff aim to make the scanning procedure as pleasant as possible.