Governance & patient safety
Safety and Governance
CQC status, safeguarding, radiation safety and respectful environment
This page explains how Elixier Diagnostics promotes safe, accountable and respectful care for patients, visitors, referrers and staff. It is written for website publication and summarises our public commitments.
CQC registered
Elixier Diagnostics is registered with Care Quality Commission.
Go to sectionSafeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at Elixier Diagnostics.
Go to sectionRadiation safety
This includes general X-ray, CBCT and DEXA.
Go to sectionRespectful environment
A safe, respectful and inclusive environment for patients, visitors, staff, clinicians and contractors.
Go to sectionPurpose
This page explains how Elixier Diagnostics promotes safe, accountable and respectful care for patients, visitors, referrers and staff. It is written for website publication and summarises our public commitments.
CQC Registration and Rating
Care Quality Commission
Elixier Diagnostics is registered with Care Quality Commission (CRT1-28401011050, dated 08/06/2026) for regulated activities - Diagnostic and screening procedures and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
What this means for patients
- We maintain policies, procedures, training records and governance arrangements for safe care.
- We will display our CQC registration and rating information clearly once available.
- We will be open about the scope of services currently available and any services that are pending regulatory approval.
- We will cooperate with CQC, commissioners, professional regulators and other appropriate bodies.
Safeguarding Statement
Everyone has the right to live free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at Elixier Diagnostics.
Who safeguarding protects
- Children and young people under 18.
- Adults with care and support needs who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect.
- Patients who may be vulnerable because of illness, disability, distress, coercion, domestic abuse, communication difficulty or lack of capacity.
- Patients accompanied by carers, family members, interpreters, advocates or other representatives where there may be concern about pressure, control or safety.
What we will do
- Listen carefully and take concerns seriously.
- Act promptly where abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic abuse, coercion or unsafe care may be present.
- Share information appropriately where this is necessary to protect a person from harm.
- Work with local safeguarding services, police or emergency services where required.
- Keep accurate records of concerns, decisions and actions.
- Ensure staff receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role.
- Use safer recruitment checks for staff and relevant contractors.
Radiation Safety Information - X-ray, CBCT and DEXA
Some of our diagnostic services use ionising radiation. This includes general X-ray, CBCT and DEXA. We use these examinations only where the expected clinical benefit outweighs the small radiation risk and where the examination is appropriate for the clinical question.
Our radiation safety commitments
Before examination
- Every ionising radiation examination must have an appropriate referral or clinical reason.
- The examination must be justified by an entitled practitioner or authorised under an approved protocol before exposure.
- Patient identity, examination type, body part, side and safety questions are checked before exposure.
- Pregnancy status is checked sensitively where relevant before X-ray, CBCT or DEXA.
During care
- The lowest dose reasonably practicable is used while maintaining diagnostic quality.
- Children, young people and pregnant patients receive additional safeguards.
Governance
- Equipment is subject to quality assurance, servicing and specialist radiation protection advice.
- Radiation incidents and near misses are reported, investigated and used for learning.
Radiation comparison
| Examination | Typical purpose | Safety focus |
|---|---|---|
| X-ray | Assessment of bones, joints, chest or other areas where clinically indicated | Correct site/side, pregnancy enquiry where relevant, dose optimisation |
| CBCT | Dental, maxillofacial or ENT-related 3D imaging where clinically indicated | Smallest suitable field of view, dental/clinical referral checks, pregnancy enquiry where relevant |
| DEXA | Bone density and fracture-risk assessment where clinically indicated | Clinical indication, positioning, very low dose, pregnancy enquiry where relevant |
Why we ask identity and safety questions
Correct patient identification is a key safety step. We ask patients to state their name, date of birth and address or postcode, and we check this against the booking and referral information. For imaging we also confirm the examination, site and side where relevant. If information does not match, we will stop and resolve the issue before proceeding.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Please tell us before your appointment if you are pregnant, may be pregnant or are unsure. If pregnancy is confirmed or cannot be excluded, the case will be reviewed before the examination proceeds. For standard X-ray, CBCT and DEXA examinations, breastfeeding does not normally need to be interrupted because the examination does not make breast milk radioactive.
Alternatives and refusal
Where clinically appropriate, alternatives that do not use ionising radiation may be considered. You can ask questions and you can decline an examination. If you decline, we will record this and advise the referrer where appropriate.
Zero Tolerance and Respectful Environment Statement
Elixier Diagnostics is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for patients, visitors, staff, clinicians and contractors.
We will not tolerate
- Violence, threats, intimidation or aggressive behaviour.
- Abusive, discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise offensive language or behaviour.
- Harassment, bullying, stalking or unwanted personal comments.
- Damage to property or misuse of equipment.
- Recording staff, patients or clinical areas without permission.
- Behaviour that compromises patient safety, privacy, dignity or confidentiality.
What may happen if behaviour is unacceptable
- We may ask the person to stop the behaviour or leave the premises.
- We may pause, rearrange or end an appointment if it is unsafe to continue.
- We may contact police or emergency services where there is threat, violence, harassment or a suspected crime.
- We may restrict future contact to written communication or specific arrangements where necessary and proportionate.
- We will continue to consider urgent clinical needs and will avoid unfair discrimination when making decisions.