- NHS hospital
George Eliot NHS Hospital
Report from 16 April 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment 14 May to 15 June 2024 The types of diagnostic imaging offered by the department included general X-ray, fluoroscopy and interventional radiology, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. For the purposes of this report, the different types of imaging will be referred to as modalities. There were 2 radiology departments on the hospital site, the new Community Diagnostic Centre that sat within the clinical services directorate and the main radiology department that came under the urgent and emergency care directorate. When we refer to the department in the report we mean both the community diagnostic centre and the main radiology department. In the 12 months before the inspection, the service had performed a total of 153,703 examinations across all modalities. This included 28507 CT scans, 16536 MRI scans, 78496 x-rays, 28859 ultrasound scans and 1305 DEXA scans. The inspection team comprised of a CQC inspector and a specialist advisor with expertise in diagnostic imaging. On the second day the team were joined by 2 Pharmacist Specialists and a regulatory co-ordinator. We spoke with 34 members of staff, 15 patients and 2 relatives and observed interactions with patients on both days.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 15 patients and 2 relatives. Patients told us they had been given information about the side effects of radiation and had been provided with personal protective equipment to keep them safe. Patients could choose which hospital they attended for imaging appointments. This meant patients could sometimes get their treatment sooner in a hospital other than the one most local to them. Some of the patients we spoke to told us they had attended this hospital because they could get their scan there sooner. Patients said staff treated them well and with kindness. Patients told us staff introduced themselves and were polite and friendly. They also told us they had time to ask questions. Patients said they were asked about their communication and mobility needs so staff could prove support or make adaptations for them. Patients told us staff had spent time talking them through their procedure and helping reduce any anxieties they had about their scan. Patients understood how to provide feedback their care. Most patients told us they had not had to wait too long for their scan. One patient said they were seen within an hour of a doctor requesting their scan. However, 2 patients said their previous scan appointment had been cancelled.