Archived: Bestcare Diagnostics Limited

Bestcare Diagnostics Limited has been operating since October 2016. The service provides non obstetric ultrasound and screening services in local community settings, such as GP surgeries. The service is led by Consultant Sonographers. Referrals are received via electronic means to a central office where administration staff arrange clinic sessions and send out appointments to patients. The provider rents space, including an examination room with an examination couch, hand washing facilities, reception support, waiting areas and restrooms. The sonographer, assisted by a health care assistant, provides clinic sessions in each location and, on a daily basis, move to different locations with the scanning and information equipment.

The service provides non-obstetric ultrasound diagnostic and screening services for people aged 18 years and older. The clinics are facilitated for full days on Monday to Friday and with reduced hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

The service employs 26 staff in total, which include one manager, seven sonographers, 10 health care assistants, one information technology manager and seven administration staff.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out the unannounced part of the inspection on 8 April 2019, along with an announced telephone interview with the registered manager of the service on 11 April 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.

Services we rate

We rated Bestcare Diagnostics Limited as Good overall.

We found good practice in relation to outpatient care:

• All staff had completed all of their mandatory training and knew how to protect patients from harm or abuse.

• Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to consent and the mental health act.

• Staff treated patients with care and compassion.

• There were high patient satisfaction scores and patients that we spoke with were very pleased with their care.

• Staff supported and met the needs of individuals.

• There was a positive culture and staff engagement was good.

• There was a clear governance structure.

• We saw evidence of a comprehensive audit programme that was used to drive improvements in the service.

Ann Ford

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (North region)