A DIAGNOSTIC imaging centre in Stanway has been told to shape up after inspectors found its hygiene regime was not standard practise.

The Care Quality Commission rated Diagnostic Healthcare Limited’s Colchester clinic as requires improvement, raising concerns over safety and leadership at the facility.

The firm has submitted an appeal following publication of the report, which also rated the facility as good in the caring and responsive categories.

During a visit in January, inspectors found inconsistencies in staff compliance with best practise in hand hygiene.

The report states: “The radiographer working in the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) room said they would change gloves between patients and sometimes use disinfectant wipes for hand cleansing between patients.

“They did not have hand gel in the DEXA room at the time of our inspection. This was not best practise and was not in accordance with the service’s infection prevention and control policy.”

Inspectors raised concerns about the size and layout of the clinic with the waiting room “not sufficiently spacious” to meet demand. Staff also had issues identifying and recording risks.

The report continues: “There was limited evidence of a clear vision and strategy at local level to outline steps for targets to achieve or continuous development, although there was a general vision at provider level.”

However, inspectors praised staff’s knowledge of their responsibilities and also their “ kind and compassionate approach”.

The quality of equipment at the centre was also of a high standard and there was said to be a “positive team-based culture” present.

Colchester Clinic provides non-pregnancy related ultrasounds and specialist X-rays from the Peartree Business Centre, Stanway.

Between June 2018 and January 2019, the service performed more than 7,000 scans after NHS referral.

Diagnostic Healthcare Limited said it could not comment on the report until the appeal process had concluded.