South Tees PET CT Centre Also known as Alliance Medical Limited

We rated it as good because:

• The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. 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 to patients and made them comfortable. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available up to five days a week.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients’ individual needs, 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 a diagnostic procedure.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• PET-CT national audit data for PET-CT scan turnaround times from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021 showed improvements were required.
• Staff were not confident when discussions took place about the ‘Duty of Candour’.
• Permanent clinical staff had not completed level two adult safeguarding training relevant to their role.
• Some of the corporate policies reviewed were past their review dates.
• It was not clear that staff had completed sepsis training.
• A sepsis management policy was not available for staff to access.
• Staff were not aware of the Alliance Medical Limited strategy and vision for the service.