Brighton and Sussex Medical School Clinical Imaging Science Centre

Updated 12 November 2018

The Clinical Imaging Science Centre (CISC) was operated by Brighton and Sussex Medical School Imaging Science Center and in collaboration with two local universities. The service opened in October 2007. It had an independent imaging service located on the University of Sussex Campus, in Brighton. Diagnostic imaging services are provided to the National Health Services, as well as to other independent health providers. The service aimed to provide high quality diagnostic imaging as well as research, educational and clinical development opportunities.

The centre had a main reception area where all patients and visitors report on arrival. Access to the centre was controlled by video entry phone. The centre had three scanning rooms and two control rooms. The PET, CT & 1.5T scanners were situated in the East Wing which had a combined control room. The West Wing had a 3T MRI scanner and had a dedicated control room.

There was an additional waiting area, an accessible toiletdesigned to accommodate people with physicaldisabilities, an emergency treatment area, a seminar room and additional bathroom and shower facility.

The service had the same registered manager in post since 2011.

Updated 12 November 2018

Brighton and Sussex Medical School is a joint venture in partnership with the University of Sussex. Services provided are diagnostic imaging in the fields of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET-CT and CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to patients from local National Health Services trusts and other locations.

Updated 12 November 2018

We rated this service as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

Patients were cared for by kind and compassionate staff who had a good understanding of how to meet individual care needs. Incidents and complaints were reported, investigated and learned from. 

Staff received the required level of training to manage emergency situations. The environment was visibly clean and tidy and staff followed best practice infection control guidance when caring for patients.

Equipment was well maintained and tested regularly and serviced. Services were planned and delivered in a way which met the needs of the local population. Waiting times and cancellations were minimal and managed appropriately. 

There was a well-defined leadership structure and lines of accountability. The service had an open and transparent culture and staff were aware of their responsibilities to ensure compliance with the Duty of Candor regulations.

However:

The service did not meet the needs of their young patients because there was no children’s safeguarding policy.

The infection control policy did not incorporate any quality monitoring process.

Staff did not have access to Mental Capacity Act, or manual handling training at the time of the inspection.