Updated 20 July 2026
Worcestershire imaging centre is a diagnostic imaging service operated by The Worcestershire Imaging Centre Limited, which opened in 1999. It is a private clinic that serves the communities of Worcestershire and Shropshire.
The service provided magnetic resonance diagnostic services which undertakes scans on patients to diagnose disease, disorder and injury for NHS patients, patients with private healthcare, private insurance and self-paying patients. The service was regulated to carry out MRI scans for adults and children aged 4 to 17.
We carried out a short notice announced risk-based assessment on 29 April 2026. The purpose of the assessment was to re-rate the service and to follow up regulatory breaches from the previous inspection in 2019. We inspected all 5 key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led and assessed all quality statements.
We interviewed the registered manager and spoke with radiographers and a medical secretary. We reviewed patient records, policies, audits, risk registers, and governance documentation. We also reviewed feedback from patients that had used the service. Further details on our inspection approach are available on the CQC website.
The service was previously inspected in January 2019 and was rated as requires improvement.
The service was no longer in breach of regulations. Previous breaches included expired medicines, no safeguarding lead, incomplete bank radiographer competencies and incomplete induction checklists. The service did not have an identifiable registered manager or MRI expert.
We found the service had made improvements and is no longer in breach of regulations.
Safe - We found patients were protected from abuse and avoidable harm and safety was a priority for everyone.
Effective - We found patients and communities had the best possible outcomes because their needs were assessed.
Caring - We found patients were treated with kindness, empathy and compassion.
Responsive - We found patients and communities were always at the centre of how care was planned and delivered.
Well-led - We found there was an inclusive and positive culture of continuous learning and improvement that was based on meeting the needs of people who used services and wider communities.
During this assessment, safe and well-led improved to good. Caring and responsive remained good. The overall rating improved to good.