Window to the Womb Reading

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

We found a service that was caring, where staff understood the importance to women and their families of seeing and hearing their babies for the first time. Women felt informed and in control of the process, including understanding what their scans consisted of, pricing, etc. All staff we spoke with loved working at the service.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People’s experience

Score: 3

All people who used the service mentioned how kind and caring the staff were. Comments included “So happy, we’re very pleased with the service” and “The staff are so lovely”.

Feedback from staff and leaders

Score: 3

The manager and staff described how important working with compassion and dignity was to women and their families. Staff were aware of the importance women placed on “scanning moments” and how women, their friends and families would always remember the first time they saw a photograph of their baby or heard its heartbeat. Staff wanted to make women’s experiences as memorable as possible.

Feedback from partners

Score: 3

Local providers we spoke with did not have any issues or concerns regarding this service providing kind, compassionate and dignified care.

Observation

Score: 3

We were able to observe women’s experiences when they arrived on-site, went into their appointments, aftercare and leaving the site with their chosen scan photos and memorabilia. Throughout the women’s journeys we noted that all staff were kind, they kept their voices down and advised women what they were going to do before commencing. Staff gave women and their families numerous opportunities to ask questions and check understanding.

People’s experience

Score: 3

Families advised us their treatment package was tailored to their needs, regarding frequency and the type of treatment they received.

On the day of inspection, people we spoke with advised that they felt informed regarding next steps, for example, whether they wanted another scan at the clinic and discussions of the reasons why. What to expect from any upcoming NHS scans and signposting when further support was required.

Feedback from staff and leaders

Score: 3

Staff understood the importance of supporting and involving same sex couples. Staff advised us they treated both biological and non-biological mothers the same. Staff also stated where a surrogate mother attended, they ensured all parties were involved in discussions, plans and next steps.

Observation

Score: 3

We observed that staff treated women as individuals and with dignity and respect.

Processes

Score: 3

Women who were known to have complicated medical histories were offered the first or last appointment of the day. This ensured the service was quiet.

People’s experience

Score: 3

People were happy with the range of frames, toys and individual items available to customise their scan photos and heartbeat audios.

Feedback from staff and leaders

Score: 3

Managers and staff were able to balance the requirements of the business whilst not taking advantage of women in a heightened emotional state. A number of toys, photo albums and frames were on display immediately on entering the service. Staff understood they needed to promote the selling of these items, however, we observed there was no heavy push for sales. Staff moved soft toys away from low lying shelves in order that siblings could not reach items and place pressure on parents to purchase them.

Processes

Score: 3

The service provided numerous scanning and gender reveal packages in a range of prices. Items to purchase included confetti cannons for each gender and gender scratch cards. Women could also have a recording of their baby’s heartbeat saved in a soft toy.

People’s experience

Score: 3

We were advised by people who used this service that it was effective in meeting their needs. The service not only provided pregnancy scanning, but also blood tests for liver, thyroid and hormone function.

Feedback from staff and leaders

Score: 3

Staff advised us that during the COVID 19 pandemic, they used see-through face masks to support people who communicated using lip reading.

Observation

Score: 3

We observed a woman receiving a transvaginal scan to assess her uterus function post miscarriage. The appointment time was extended and arranged for when the service was quiet, in order that the woman was not surrounded by pregnant women in the waiting area. If a woman received distressing news during the scan, staff cleared the waiting area of all attendees in order that the woman and their family could have privacy, when leaving the site.

Feedback from staff and leaders

Score: 3

Staff advised us they had a good work/life balance and that they could discuss well-being concerns with their team and manager.

Processes

Score: 3

Staff had access to an external agency for help and support on a variety of topics from financial to legal as well as therapeutic services. The franchisee described how an official staff well-being survey for the entirety of Window to the Womb was in the process of being developed. In the meantime, the services registered manager conducted unofficial questionnaires, solely of their team in order to ensure that wellbeing was monitored.