We found that systems were in place to gain and review consent from people who used services. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety. There were standard treatment protocols in place to support consistent care. People that we spoke with told us that they received a very good service, that staff were kind and respectful and 'went through everything with them' to make sure they understood the procedures they had come for.

People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment. We noted that the environment including consulting and treatment rooms, toilets and the hospitality kitchen were clean. All areas were tidy and free from clutter and this meant that they could be cleaned effectively. There were recently updated policies and procedures for hygiene and infection control and people were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed.

There were recruitment and selection processes in place to make sure that staff were suitably qualified and fit to work in the service. People said that they felt safe with the staff and had confidence in their ability.

We found care records, staff records and other records relevant to the management of the services were accurate and fit for purpose. Confidential records were securely managed and most records that we asked for were made available to us.

Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd (Varsity Medical Centre) is operated by Diagnostic Healthcare Limited.

Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd was established in 2004 to provide medical diagnostic imaging services of MRI, CT, Ultrasound, DEXA and X-ray to both NHS and private patients.

Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd (Varsity Medical Centre) delivers obstetric ultrasound scans to people on behalf of Birmingham Women’s Hospital. Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd (Varsity Medical Centre) also provides obstetric ultrasound scans to privately paying patients. Diagnostic Healthcare Ltd (Varsity Medical Centre) also provides sonographers to Birmingham Women’s Hospital and a radiographer to another independent healthcare provider providing dental scans.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out an unannounced inspection on 5 December 2018 and an announced inspection on 10 December 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.

We rated this service as good overall. We rated it good for safe, caring, responsive and well-led. We do not currently rate the effective domain.

Our key findings are as follows:

• 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 understood how to protect patients from abuse and the service worked well with other agencies to do so.

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

• The effectiveness of care and treatment were monitored and the findings were used to improve the service.

• Staff cared for patients with compassion. They respected patients’ privacy and dignity, and supported their individual needs. Staff provided emotional support to patients to minimise their distress. Staff involved patients and those close to them in decisions about their care and treatment.

• The service planned and provided services in a way that met the needs of local people. The service took account of patients’ individual needs.

• The service treated concerns and complaints seriously, investigated them and learned lessons from the results, and shared these with staff.

• Managers had the right skills and abilities to run a service providing high-quality sustainable care. The provider promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff, creating a sense of common purpose based on shared values.

• The service had access to the local acute NHS hospital’s computer systems. This allowed referrals to be made electronically from the host hospital and scan results be available immediately for referrer review.

• The service engaged well with patients and staff to plan and manage appropriate services.

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.

Amanda Stanford

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (Central Region)