When we last inspected this service we had concerns about the lack of information patients had been provided with about their treatment. Patients had to share a waiting area with other patients attending different clinics at the hospital.

During this inspection we found a waiting room had been created specifically for patients using the service. Patients had been provided with information prior to their appointment about the procedure they were to undergo. They had also been provided with directions how to find the service. We found the service had a good range of information leaflets in the waiting area.

We observed one patient reading leaflet’s about the service whilst waiting for their appointment. They told us they were happy with the new waiting area and showed us the information in their appointment letter. The patient said, “I am happy with the information provided in my appointment letter. I was provided with clear directions how to find the department. They informed me what my scan was for and what to expect”.

We looked at staff training records, staff supervision arrangements and the services arrangements for record keeping. We did this because we wanted to identify that appropriate arrangements were in place to support staff members. We also wanted to ensure patients medical records were held safely and remained confidential.

We spoke to two patients who were attending the service for a scan. Patients told us they had been sent a letter offering them an appointment but they had not been given any information about what type of scan they would be having.

One patient we spoke with told us their GP had arranged the appointment and they didn’t know what the procedure involved, but they were not too concerned by this.

We saw that no patient literature was provided in waiting or treatment areas. There was no information to explain to patients was an ultrasound scan was or what it involved.

Patients told us that they found it difficult to find the service within the hospital and that they had found it difficult to find suitable parking near by. Staff told us there were plans to send out a map of the hospital with future patient appointment letters. One patient told us they would have found a map, “…really useful.”

We heard and observed staff talking to patients in a respectful way.

We spoke to one patient following their scan and they told us, “It was not a bad experience.”

Another patient told us that staff had explained the scan procedure to them and because of this they full understood what was happening to them.