Archived: Scott Building

Updated 20 March 2023

Scott Building is the main location and headquarters of the provider Ultracardiac Ltd.

It provides echocardiogram tests and reports for NHS patients. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound imaging of the heart. The service is also available to private paying patients. The service was available from Scott Building 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday, and on a limited basis from 10 other locations in the south west of England.

The Scott Building location also provided an electrocardiogram test service to private paying patients.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The service employed around 18 staff, who were mostly sonographers. There were also administrative staff and a non-executive consultant cardiologist.

We had not previously inspected the service.

The service was registered to carry out the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedure

Updated 20 March 2023

This was the first inspection of Scott Building. We rated it 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 mostly controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records.

• Staff provided good care and treatment. 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. Key services were available to suit patients' needs.

• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs.

• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people and took account of patients’ individual needs. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for appointments.

• 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:

• Ultrasound gel was decanted from large containers into smaller containers. This did not follow national guidance and increased the risk of infection.

• Although we saw evidence of individual risk assessments, the service did not maintain a an overarching business risk register.

• The service had received feedback from only a small proportion of patients.

Updated 20 March 2023

This was the first inspection of Scott Building. We rated it as good. See the summary above for details.