Updated 21 May 2019
Ashford PET-CT Diagnostic Imaging Centre is operated by Alliance Medical Limited. The service opened on 15 March 2018. Patients are referred primarily from NHS Trusts across Kent. The service also scans privately insured and self-funding patients.
The service has had a registered manager in post since 19 March 2018.
Updated 21 May 2019
Ashford PET-CT Centre is operated by Alliance Medical Limited. Alliance Medical Limited provides PET-CT Scan Imaging within the grounds of an NHS Trust in the South East of England, through a national contract commissioned by NHS England. The service has previously been delivered using a mobile unit. In August 2015 a static unit was built within the hospital grounds and opened on 15 March 2018.
The service provides a diagnostic imaging service for patients who require a PET CT scan. A PET-CT scan is a combination of aPET (positron emission tomography) scanand aCT (computerised tomography) scan. The PET scan shows how active cells are in different parts of the body using a radioactive injection. The CT scan takes a series of pictures (x-rays) to build this information into 3D pictures of the inside of body. Local governance was monitored through regular meetings with the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) holder (a specialist licensed radiologist) in the NHS Trust. The service was also supported by the NHS Trust Medical Physics Team who provided a Radiation Protection Advisor, a Medical Physics Expert and Radioactive Waste Advisor.
We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out a short notice announced inspection on 28 February 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.
Updated 21 May 2019
Ashford PET CT Diagnostic Imaging Centre provides positron emission tomography for NHS adult patients, privately insured patients and self-funding patients. The service provides scans for patients from across Kent. Since opening in March 2018 1,892 scans were carried out. We found that there was sufficient staff that were trained, skilled and competent to provide the service. The centre was visibly clean and the equipment was well maintained. Staff delivered care in line with best practice guidance. Patients were very positive about the experience of having a scan at the centre. Patients were treated as individuals and we observed patients being cared for with the utmost respect. Written information was available. However, it was not in a format other than English. An interpreting service was available. Managers supported staff in an open and friendly culture. Organisational governance and risk processes were in place with information shared with staff. Results of scans were with the referring consultant within two days of the scan being done.