Cheshunt Diagnostic Centre

Updated 14 January 2022

Cheshunt Diagnostic Centre is operated by Alliance Medical Limited. It is a diagnostic and screening service in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. The service primarily served the communities of East Hertfordshire. At the time of inspection, Cheshunt Diagnostic Centre served only NHS patients; there were no referrals for private patients. The service saw patients from one year old and up.

The service has a registered manager, who had been in post since the opening of the service in February 2019, and is registered to provide the following registered activity:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures

The service saw patients on a walk-in basis and had no overnight beds. The only service provided was X-ray imaging. Cheshunt Diagnostic Centre had one X-ray machine housed in a scanning suite with two changing rooms. There was a designated waiting area in the hallway outside the scanning room.

In the twelve months prior to the inspection, the unit had carried out 13,691 X-ray scans.

We carried out an unannounced inspection on 16 November 2021 using our comprehensive inspection methodology.

Updated 14 January 2022

This was the first inspection for this location. 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 collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
• Staff provided good care to patients. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients and had access to good information. Key services were available seven days a week.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and took account of their individual needs. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.
• Leaders ran services well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. 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. The service engaged well with patients and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• The service did not have oversight of environmental cleaning performed by the host hospital.
• The service did not monitor waiting times and number of people who left before being seen.
• The service did not have processes that made it easy for people to give feedback.

Updated 14 January 2022

See summary above for details.