The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospital
  • Independent hospital

The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

57a Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YP (020) 7224 1880

Provided and run by:
The Fertility Academy Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment of Outpatients

The service was last inspected in 2014 under an old methodology and met the standards but was not rated. We carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service on 3 and 16 of December 2025 under a new methodology and rated the service as Requires Improvement. We inspected the assessment service group (ASG) outpatients.

We rated the service as Requires Improvement. We found 4 breaches of the regulations in relation to, Safe Care and Treatment, Premises and Equipment, Good Governance and Fit and Proper Persons Employed.

Not all staff had received mandatory training, and mandatory training was not assessed for different roles, meaning we were not assured all staff had received training to ensure they were competent for the roles they undertook. Not all staff had completed safeguarding training and there was no assessment of roles and responsibilities to ensure staff accessed safeguarding training at a level relevant to their role. Staff files did not include requirements to comply with schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act, including having a full employment history, references from previous employers and a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check. Therefore, there was no evidence only suitable staff were employed by the service. Hand washing facilities were not always available increasing the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses. Leaders did not have full oversight of the risks to the service and did not take action to mitigate risks and make improvements.

However, staff demonstrated kindness and compassion, patients felt respected and cared for. They were involved in decisions about their care and were able to make informed decisions. There was a positive culture of learning from incidents.

We requested an action plan following publication of the final report.

During an assessment of the hospital overall

We carried out an onsite inspection of the service on 03 and 16 December 2025 and held telephone calls with patients and staff who were not available during the onsite inspection. The Fertility and Gynecology Academy is based in central London and provides private fertility advice and treatment for people.

The previous inspection was under an old methodology and was not rated. This assessment looked at the outpatient’s assessment service group (ASG). Outpatients is the only ASG provided by this service that falls within activity regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The service is registered with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the CQC. The HFEA regulate services that provide fertility treatment and research using human embryos and carry out their own inspections to ensure their standards are met.

The rating of The Fertility and Gynecology Academy is Requires Improvement. In our assessment we identified breaches of regulations in relation to Safe Care and Treatment, Premises and Equipment, Good Governance and Fit and Proper Persons Employed.

16 January 2014

During a routine inspection

Patients using the service were offered advice and information on treatment options, associated risks and costs after an assessment of their medical history and needs. Patients had the opportunity to ask questions and consider their choices and were given information to take away with them. There was access to counselling if required.

There were suitable arrangements for emergencies with emergency equipment and drugs and fire safety procedures. Staff had regular training in basic life support and first aid.

Signed consent was obtained in all cases before treatment commenced and after an informed decision had been made.

We spoke to patients who told us that they felt well informed about treatment options and risks. One patient told us, "All the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful", while another said "All the information was clear and our questions answered fully."

The premises were clean and adequate standards of hygiene and cleanliness were apparent and procedures were in place to minimise the risk of infection to those using the service.

There was an appropriate recruitment policy and staff files showed that suitable checks had been made when employing staff, including references, employment history and proof of identity.

There was a complaints procedure for recording complaints and comments about the service and a patient satisfaction questionnaire which was analysed regularly and showed high levels of satisfaction with the service.