Archived: Harley Street Medical Centre

Harley Street Medical Centre is operated by UME Diagnostics LTD.

The service provides diagnostic imaging through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerised tomography (CT), X-Ray and ultrasound only.

The Harley Street Medical centre registered with the CQC in 2006. It was last inspected in July 2012 under the previous CQC methodology. At the time, the service met the standards it was measured against.

We inspected this service under our independent single speciality diagnostic framework and using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 23 May 2019.

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.

The main service provided was diagnostic MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound scans.

Services we rate

We have not previously rated this service. At this inspection we rated it as Good overall.

We found the following areas of good practice:

• The service provided mandatory training in key skills to all staff and made sure everyone completed it.
• Staff understood how to protect patients from abuse and the service worked well with other agencies to do so.
• The service had suitable premises and equipment and looked after them well.
• The service had appropriate arrangements in place to manage risks to patients and visitors.
• Staff kept detailed records of patients’ care and treatment. Records were clear, up-to-date, and easily available to all staff providing care.
• The service managed patient safety incidents well, and staff recognised and reported them appropriately.
• The service provided care and treatment based on national guidance and evidence of its effectiveness.
• Staff cared for patients with compassion.
• The service planned and provided services in a way that met the needs of local people.
• People could access the service when they needed it.
• Managers at all levels in the service had the right skills and abilities to run a service providing high-quality sustainable care.
• The registered manager across the service promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.

However,

• At the time of inspection, the service did not have assurances of stock management or a local policy defining responsibilities and process for checking medical supplies stock.
• The centre did not have child friendly waiting areas.

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

Nigel Acheson

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals