Marlowe Innovation Centre

Updated 1 November 2021

Marlowe Innovation Centre is operated by South East Ultrasound Limited. The service opened at this location in September 2018. It is an independent company providing diagnostic ultrasound and screening services to adults in the East Kent communities. This location offers services to patients who are NHS funded (76%) and other-funded (24%). The provider offers one type of modality; ultrasound scans such as the abdomen, women’s health, musculoskeletal and testicles. The service also offers other-funded baby scanning services and general health and wellbeing screening. All ultrasound scans offered at this location have no associated radiation risks as probes are placed directly onto a patient’s skin or inside an opening during a procedure.

Clinics are operated from this location which is also the head office. This service occupies two rooms on the ground floor, situated within a building shared with other independent businesses; one room is dedicated for ultrasound scans and the second room split into two offices used for management and administration staff. The main entrance to the building had a reception area, with further dedicated waiting areas next to the scan room and offices.

The service employed two directors (one held the role of the registered manager and sonographer), seven administration and information technology staff, 12 self-employed sonographers, one self-employed physiotherapist sonographer and one self-employed radiologist.

The provider also offers services at 10 mobile clinics located in GP surgeries and health centres within East Kent.

The location is registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures

A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The service has had a registered manager since 2018.

This location registered with the Care Quality Commission in September 2018 and this is its first inspection. We carried out a planned comprehensive unannounced inspection on 8 September 2021.

Updated 1 November 2021

We rated this location as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them. Staff collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
• Staff provided good care to patients and kept patients comfortable during scans. 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 patient information. Key services were available six days a week and extended days when required.
• 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.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for a diagnostic procedure.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However, we found the following issues:

The sonographers acting as chaperones had not received any training for this role.

Updated 1 November 2021

We rated this service as good because:

• See overall summary for details.