Mediscan Diagnostic Services Limited

Updated 17 August 2022

Mediscan Diagnostic Services Limited is operated by Mediscan Diagnostics Services Ltd. The location has been registered to deliver diagnostic and screening procedure services since June 2013. The location, which is also the provider’s head office, is the central administrative and managerial office from which the provider’s national diagnostic imaging services are managed.

The provider delivers a range of services including primarily ultrasound scanning, also some audiology services and physiotherapy which are not regulated by CQC. The location does not host any clinics on site, providing satellite clinics hosted in GP surgeries, private clinic buildings and hospitals. Prior to inspection in April 2021, Mediscan Diagnostics Services Ltd ran between 99 and 130 satellite locations from these sites.

Following inspections in April and June 2021 we imposed conditions on the provider’s registration which limited the practice of invasive ultrasound procedures, including endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and trans-vaginal scans. Following our review at inspection in March 2022 of the provider’s actions in response to the identified concerns, the conditions have now been removed.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, we have carried out five inspections. The latest inspection in March 2022 was to review the actions taken to improve after Warning Notices were issued for failure to comply with the requirements of Regulation 12 Safe Care and Treatment and Regulation 17 Good governance.

At the last inspection in March 2022 we reviewed evidence to support the provider’s actions to improve, following the breaches of regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 we had also previously identified at the November 2021 inspection. These included Regulations 5 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons: directors; Regulation 12 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safe care and treatment; Regulation 13 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment; and Regulation 18 HSCA (RA) Regulations 2014 Staffing.

At the last inspection of the service in March 2022 we rated the service as Requires Improvement.

Updated 17 August 2022

Our rating of this location improved. 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 had implemented systems to manage safety. Staff completed and documented patient risk assessments. The service had established appropriate systems and processes to improve control of infection risk. Staff kept care records. The service had implemented systems for managing safety incidents and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment and gave patients enough to drink. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, supported them to make decisions about their care, 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, 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 treatment.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. Staff were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged with patients to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually. The service made it easy for people to give feedback about treatment and care

However:

• There was some inconsistency in the correct identification of ultrasound equipment units seen at the satellite clinic and recorded in the service’s equipment asset registers.
• Audit processes had been implemented for safeguarding, IPC and equipment checking but outcomes were not yet fully embedded due to the limited clinical activities at the time of inspection.
• Electronic systems used for patients having transvaginal or invasive scans did not allow patients to directly record their consent and this practice was not consistent with the service policy.
• The service did not have a process for applying ‘pause and check’ guidance from the British Medical Ultrasound Society for relevant scan procedures.
• Wider service risks were not always clearly considered or identified in risk registers and there was duplication between the quality improvement action plan and the risk register.
• The service did not have a documented strategy or vision although staff were broadly aware of the organisation’s values.
• Governance and risk management systems were not yet fully embedded due to the limited levels of clinical activity in the service.

Updated 17 August 2022

Our rating of this service improved. See the summary above for details.