Universal Ultrasound Diagnostics - Kings Heath

Updated 2 October 2023

Universal Ultrasound Diagnostics Ltd is an independent ultrasound service based in Birmingham.

It provides pregnancy scans including early pregnancy, reassurance, dating, gender, cervical length, anomaly, growth/foetal well-being, placenta localisation, 3d and 4d. the service also provides diagnostic scans including abdominal, kidney, pelvic fertility, deep vein thrombosis, scrotal testicular, breasts and thyroid.

During the 8 month period from 31 October 2022 to 30 June 2023 the service had undertaken 263 scans.

The service has a registered manager who is the owner of the service.

There were 4 substantive staff employed which included the registered manager, 1 sonographer and 2 administrators / healthcare assistances.

The regulated activities delivered by the service are:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures.

The service was registered on 17 October 2022 and has not been previously inspected or rated.

Updated 2 October 2023

This was the first time we inspected the service. We rated it as requires improvement because:

• The service had a recruitment process in place but did not always follow this.
• The service did not ensure mandatory training was up to date and within the expiry date.
• The provider did not have risk assessments for staff on repetitive strain injury, prevention of musculoskeletal disorders or working with visual display units.
• The service did not have their own a first aid kit.
• The service did not have an audit process in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality and consistency of the reporting to ensure patient outcomes were monitored and met British Medical Ultrasound Society standards.
• Sonography staff were not provided with feedback on scans that had been reviewed.
• The service did not backup data from the ultrasound machine which meant they had not addressed the need for long term storage of the images as per retention of images rules as set out in the Records Management Code of Practise for Health and Social care 2016.
• The service did not use systems to monitor, escalate and mitigate risks appropriately such ensuring the workplace risk register was being updated and used as a ‘live document.
• The providers certificate of registration or Indemnity Insurance was not displayed.
• The service did not display information on for example promoting healthy lifestyles, safeguarding or chaperones.

However:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to drink. Managers made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs. They provided emotional support to patients.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people and made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities.

Updated 2 October 2023