Window To The Womb

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

This means we looked for evidence that the service involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. We checked that people’s privacy and dignity was respected, that they understood that they and their experience of how they were treated and supported mattered. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and were involved as partners in their care. We observed and women told us that every effort was made by staff to take people’s wishes into account and respect their choices, to achieve the best possible outcomes for them. We observed and women and their loved ones we spoke to confirmed, that staff treated them with respect, care, respect and dignity.

We have not awarded this service a score for Caring.

Find out about when we will not publish a key question score and what we look at when we assess Caring.

The service always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff treated colleagues with kindness and respect.

Staff attitudes and behaviours when interacting with people showed that they were discreet, respectful and responsive, providing women with help, emotional support and advice at the time they needed it. We saw that staff demonstrated a strong understanding of compassion and awareness of women’s individual and emotional needs who attended the service for scans.

Staff supported women to understand their scan results and signposted them to their GP, midwives and local hospital to manage their care, treatment or condition. Staff directed and signposted women to other services when appropriate and, if required, supported them to access those services.

The women we spoke with reported positive experiences and felt respected, supported and cared for during their scan. Women said staff treated them well with kindness, maintained their privacy and dignity and behaved appropriately towards them. There was a chaperone on each clinic shift to support women and their loved ones.

The service received feedback from women through an online platform. We received the completed feedback survey data between 15 February 2025 to 9 February 2026. A total of 214 reviews were received: Majority of the feedback were positive and 94% of women were pleased and very satisfied with the service and care received. We noted that 89% of women had rated the service as 5 (highest score), 5% rated the service as 4 (2nd highest score), 4% rated the service as 3 (average score) and 2% rated it as a 1 and 2 (worse/very worse score). We spoke to 3 women and their loved ones during the assessment and feedback was highly positive. Example of specific comments included:” great experience”, “beautiful and clean environment”, “staff were welcoming and gentle”, “sonographer was knowledgeable”, “would definitely recommend and come again”.

Staff said they could raise concerns about disrespectful, discriminatory or abusive behaviour or attitudes towards women and their loved ones without fear of the consequences.

Staff maintained the confidentiality of information about women.

The service treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. They took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

The service gathered women’s individual needs at the point of booking and made adjustments for them before their scan appointment. The clinic manager reviewed all booking and where individual needs had been identified, staff called the women before the appointment to discuss their needs further. The service made adjustments for women who had a disability or mobility needs. For example, the service ensured women’s access to premises through step-free access.

The service met the specific communication needs of women, such as Braille and easy-read formats of leaflets that were available for women if required. Women could also request large-font size scan reports if required. Staff also made information leaflets available in languages spoken by women when identified at booking or clinic appointments. Managers ensured that women had access to interpreters and translators when needed.

Staff ensured that women could obtain information on their website on services offered, local services and how to complain.

Staff had completed equality and diversity training, which supported the care delivery of women in line with the provider’s diversity policy. Policies were in place to ensure people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act (2010) received care that was free from bias and discrimination.

The service promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

The service promoted the independence of women who accessed the service, so they knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

The service gave women leaflets about their care and promoted wellbeing to expectant mothers. The service signposted them to local NHS trusts if women had any concerns and needed further advice.

We observed a wide range of keepsake products on display for purchase at the service. It was clear these had been thoughtfully chosen. Staff provided these services in a professional manner and did not apply sales pressure on any of the women and their loved ones.

The service listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

The service had an emergency policy that set out actions staff must take in emergencies, including contacting an ambulance service for obstetric emergencies and suspected ectopic pregnancies.

Staff were aware of and dealt with any specific risk issues, such as obstetric emergencies, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies and planned interventions for these accordingly.

Staff identified and responded to changing risks to women. We observed and women’s feedback showed that staff communicate clearly and calmly with women and respond quickly when they recognised signs of distress or discomfort. Where women have been identified as being anxious during booking or arrival, staff gave them extended appointment time slots. This ensured they had time to explain the scan process, answer any questions the women and their loved ones may have and provide any other support needed.

The service cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff and supported and enabled staff to always deliver person-centred care.

Staff we spoke to told us they felt respected, supported and valued. Staff felt positive and proud about working for the provider and their team.

Multidisciplinary staff worked collaboratively to discuss concerns, including those arising within the sonography team. Managers encouraged staff to raise issues openly, including during staff meetings and supported a culture of shared problem solving.

Staff appraisals included conversations about career development and how it could be supported.

The service completed an anonymised annual survey to give their feedback on 21 questions about the service. The service carried out a staff survey in July and August 2025, which was mainly positive with no actionable points. The result showed all staff rated their overall wellbeing, work-life balance, communication within the team and job security as excellent. All staff felt highly supported by their colleagues, had time to take breaks and were aware of available wellbeing programmes and resources.