All inspections: Before the Stork - Care Quality Commission

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out a short announced inspection on 26 May 2026. We assessed all quality statements from the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions.

Before the Stork is operated by Before The Stork Limited. The service provides a range of private ultrasound scans in 2D, 3D, 4D and HD LIVE for self-funding pregnant women aged 16 years of age and over. This included early scan, gender scan and growth/presentation scans. We refer to women in this report, but recognise that some transgender men, non-binary people and people with variations in sex characteristics (VSC) or who are intersex may also use these services. The service had a registered manager in post since initial registration and was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide the regulated activity diagnostic and screening procedures. All scans were performed by a registered diagnostic radiographer registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

During our inspection, we reviewed the premises which included a reception area, scanning room, kitchen, toilet and administrative area.

We reviewed policies and procedures. We reviewed staff recruitment files, competency and training records. We observed 2 scans.

The service had made improvements and is no longer in breach of regulations.

Before the Stork is an independent provider established in 2006 to provide parents with a memorable keepsake of their pregnancy through professional images and film of their unborn baby using ultrasound equipment.

The service is in Litherland, Liverpool, with good transport links and on-street parking. The service is located on the ground floor of a privately leased property. The service offers early pregnancy reassurance scans (from 6 to 14 weeks pregnancy), sexing/gender scans, 2D, 3D and 4D scans undertaken in HDLive (from 14-32 weeks pregnancy) and growth and presentation scans (from 24 weeks to term).

The main service provided was diagnostic imaging for baby keepsake scan pictures.

The service has had a registered manager in post since opening in 2006. At the time of the inspection, this manager was in post.

The service offers early pregnancy reassurance scans (from seven to 16 weeks pregnancy), sexing/gender scans (from 15 to 23 weeks pregnancy), 3D and 4D scans undertaken in HDLive (from 24 to 32 weeks pregnancy) and growth and presentation scans (from 24 to 34 weeks pregnancy).

The inspection took place on the 26 February 2019.

We observed that staff interacted positively with people and their families in the waiting room. Both the waiting room and scanning room were clean and tidy. We found the staff to be pleasant and welcoming. We spoke with four people who had come for scans with their partners and relatives. Everybody we spoke with said they were satisfied with the service they had received. One person said 'I am so happy with the gender scan. I just found out I am having a little girl.' Another person commented on how friendly the staff had been and said the scan pictures were very clear.

There was a comments book in the waiting room with many compliments about the service. These included 'We had a stubborn little baby, awkward position but very patient staff. We are ever so grateful for you making our experience special' and 'Thank you so much, staff were so helpful. We had a lovely time.'

We looked at complaints and found when people had raised any issues, these were managed appropriately.

We did not speak with any people who were using the service on the day of our inspection. Following the inspection, we phoned two people who had previously received a scan at the service. Both people told us they were satisfied with the service they had received. One person said 'The scan was very good' and 'It is a service we would use again.' We were told the staff were friendly and polite.

Both people told us they had looked at information on the services offered on the company's website before booking an appointment. Both had completed a consent form for the scan, which detailed information they needed to know. One person said, 'They [the staff] made sure I read the consent form and understood it before signing.'

Before the Stork

All Inspections

During an assessment of Diagnostic imaging

During an assessment of the hospital overall

26 February 2019

During a routine inspection

20 June 2013

During a routine inspection

12 December 2012

During a routine inspection