We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 November 2017 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Lyca Health Canary Wharf Limited provides diagnostic and imaging services, including MRI, ultrasound and X-Ray, from a purpose built location in Canary Wharf, London. The location includes 20 clinical rooms, which are used by consultants and other clinicians under practising privileges. The granting of practising privileges is an established process within independent healthcare whereby a medical practitioner is granted permission to work in an independent hospital or clinic, in independent private practice, or within the provision of community services. The organisation is based at Ground Floor, Devere Building, 1 Westferry Circus, London, E14 4HA.

The service which commenced operations in 2016, is overseen by a Board of Directors which includes clinical and non-clinical members, including the Chief Executive Officer who is a consultant radiologist.

The Chief Operations Manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 11 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the service.

During the inspection we spoke with the chief executive officer, the Chief Operations Manager, one nurse, three clinical staff and members of the administration team. We looked at service policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
• There were clear processes for reporting incidents about the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IR (ME) R).
• Risks to staff and people who used the service were assessed and well managed.
• Staff assessed peoples’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• People who used the service said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
• Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• The service had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The service proactively sought feedback from staff and people who used the service, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
• The service had a suite of safety policies including adult and child safeguarding policies which were regularly reviewed and communicated to staff.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review infection prevention and control arrangements by following through with plans to review handwashing arrangements in the CT room.
• Review how information about the cost of procedures is presented on the service website.
• Ensure that Radiation Protection Audits and checks on lead aprons are undertaken regularly.
• Put steps in place to ensure Local Rules are reviewed regularly and changes made in line with regulations. Local Rules summarise the key working instructions intended to restrict exposure in radiation areas and include a description of the area covered by the Rules, its radiological designation and the radiological hazards which may be present in the area.