Ultrasound Direct Southwest Coast

Ultrasound Direct Southwest Coast is operated by Sonoview Ltd. The service has one registered location in Southampton and four satellite clinics located in Exeter, Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth. The location in Southampton has two ultrasound scanning rooms and the satellite units each have one ultrasound scanning room.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We gave the service two weeks’ notice of our inspection to ensure everyone we needed to speak with was available. We carried out the inspection on 10 April 2018.

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.

Services we rate

We rated it as Good overall.

We found good practice in relation to diagnostic imaging services:

• The service made sure all staff completed mandatory training in key skills.

• Staff understood how to protect patients from abuse.

• The service controlled infection risk well. Staff kept themselves, equipment and the premises visibly clean.

• The service had suitable premises and equipment and looked after them well.

• The service had enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep people safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care and treatment.

• Staff kept detailed records of patients’ care and treatment. Records were clear, up-to-date and easily available and accessible. Patients received scan reports and copies of their scans electronically before they left the clinic.

• The service managed patient safety incidents well. Staff recognised incidents and reported them appropriately.

• The service provided care and treatment based on national guidance evidence of its effectiveness.

• The service made sure staff were competent for their roles.

• Staff worked together as a team to benefit patients.

• Staff cared for patients with compassion and dignity.

• The provider planned and provided services at this location in a way that met the needs of local people.

• People could access the service when they needed it.

• The service investigated concerns and complaints and shared lessons learnt with all staff.

• Managers leading the service had the right skills and abilities to run this service providing high-quality sustainable care.

• Managers and staff promoted a positive culture, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.

Following this inspection, that it should make some improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve. Details are at the end of the report.

Dr Nigel Acheson

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (London and South)