Window to the Womb

Updated 8 May 2019

This report relates to diagnostic imaging services provided by Window to the Womb.

1st Glimpse Limited operating as Window to the Womb (Walthamstow) opened in 2014 with an aim to provide diagnostic imaging services to pregnant women on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 4pm to 8pm and all day at weekends. The service has introduced early pregnancy scans to provide services to pregnant women from six weeks onwards.

1st Glimpse Limited is a private company operating under the Windows to the Womb under a franchise agreement with Window to the Womb (Franchise) Ltd. Window to the Womb (Franchise) Ltd was established in 2003 and now has 36 franchised clinics across the United Kingdom.

As part of the agreement, the franchisor (Window to the Womb Ltd) provides the service with regular on-site support, access to their guidelines and policies, training, and the use of their business model and brand.

The service provides ultrasound examinations privately to women from the local area.

The service does not currently have a manager in post registered with the CQC although the current manager had recently begun the process of registration with the CQC. We inspected this service on 9 January 2019. This was the first inspection since registration.

Updated 8 May 2019

Window to the Womb was located at 39 Wood Street, Walthamstow, London. The service had a large reception area, a scan room, quiet room, toilet, and staff room. The service used its other rooms for storage and record keeping.

Window to the Womb has separated their services into two clinics: the ‘Firstscan’ clinic, which specialises in early pregnancy scans; and the ‘Window to the Womb’ clinic, which offers later pregnancy scans.

The Firstscan clinic sees approximately 30 women per week and offers the following scans:

• Viability scans from six to 10 weeks +6 days gestation.

• Dating scans from eight to 12 weeks +6 days gestation.

• Reassurance scans from 12 to 15 weeks +6 days gestation.

The Window to the Womb clinic sees approximately 70 women per week and offers the following scans:

• Wellbeing scans from 16 to 40 weeks’ gestation.

• Wellbeing and gender scans from 16 to 22 weeks’ gestation.

• Growth and presentation scans from 26 to 42 weeks’ gestation.

• 4D baby scans from 24 to 34 weeks’ gestation.

Window to the Womb was registered to provide the following regulated activities:

• Diagnostic and screening procedures

During the inspection we spoke with staff including; the manager, scan assistants, regional manager and director. We gathered views from four women and reviewed feedback women had provided the service on social media. During our inspection we reviewed 10 patient records.

There were no special reviews or investigations of the clinic ongoing by the CQC at any time during the 12 months before this inspection.

Staff in the service consisted of one whole time equivalent (WTE) manager, a sonographer and four scan assistants, on each shift the service operated with a team leader/manager a sonographer and two scan assistants.

Track record on safety

• No never events.

• No serious injuries.

• No incidences of healthcare acquired Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

• No incidences of healthcare acquired Meticillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).

• No incidences of healthcare acquired Clostridium difficile (c. diff).

• No incidences of healthcare acquired Escherichia coli (E-Coli).

• No deaths.

Services provided under service level agreement:

• Clinical and or non-clinical waste removal

• Building Maintenance and services

• Ultrasound machine maintenance

Updated 8 May 2019

The provision of ultrasound scanning services, which is classified under the diagnostic core service, was the only core service provided at Window to the Womb.

We rated the service as good overall because it was safe, caring, responsive and well-led. Feedback from women and their families was positive. Women could access services and appointments in a way and at a time that suited them, technology was used innovatively to ensure women had timely access to treatment, and the registered manager had the appropriate skills and experience to manage the business.