Updated
13 November 2025
We carried out a comprehensive assessment of BPAS - Middlesbrough from 17 to 25 June 2025.
We assessed the Termination of Pregnancy assessment service group at this location to review the progress made against a warning notice that was served on the provider following the inspection in April 2022. We found that the service had made improvements and had met the actions of the warning notice.
At this assessment we assessed the assessment service group: Termination of Pregnancy where we assessed 26 quality statements.
At our previous inspection in April 2022 we rated BPAS Middlesbrough as Requires Improvement overall. We had rated Safe, Responsive, and Well Led as Requires Improvement. However, we had rated Effective and Caring as Good.
Following this assessment we rated the service as Good overall. We rated Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well Led as Good and Caring as Outstanding.
The service had made improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations. Staff now assessed and mitigated risks. Medicines were managed safely and care plans now guided safe practice. The provider now had enough staff to ensure people’s safety and meet their needs.
Updated
22 October 2025
Good rating with previous breaches now met
We assessed BPAS - Middlesbrough from 17 to 25 June 2025.
We assessed the Termination of Pregnancy assessment service group at this location to review the progress made against a warning notice that was served on the provider following the inspection in April 2022. We found that the service had made improvements and had met the actions of the warning notice.
BPAS - Middlesbrough was registered with CQC in 2012 to deliver the regulated activities:
- Termination of pregnancies
- Surgical procedures
- Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
- Family planning
- Diagnostic and screening procedures.
The service had a controlled drugs accountable officer and a Registered Manager/ Nominated Individual.
At this assessment we assessed the assessment service group: Termination of Pregnancy where we assessed 26 quality statements.
We carried out an unannounced assessment of the main clinic at Middlesbrough on 18 June 2025 and a short-notice announced assessment of the satellite site at Newcastle upon Tyne on 25 June 2025. During the assessment visit, the inspection team visited all areas of the clinic including, waiting areas, recovery areas and treatment rooms. We looked at the quality of medicines and emergency equipment and observed how staff were caring for patients. We spoke with the registered manager and operations manager and spoke with all staff on each site. We reviewed 9 patient care and treatment records. We looked at a range of policies, procedures and other documents relating to the running of the service.
In the reporting period from June 2024 to May 2025 the service carried out 1183 medical terminations and 229 surgical terminations. All medical terminations were carried out within the first 10 weeks and surgical terminations within the first 14 weeks of gestation. The service held a current Department of Health licence to practice under the Abortion Act and displayed copies of the licence at each of its registered locations.
- 2 patients were transferred out to another hospital from June 2024 to May 2025, both due to ectopic pregnancy found on scan.
- No complaints were received within the reporting period from June 2024 to May 2025.
At our previous inspection in April 2022 we rated BPAS Middlesbrough as Requires Improvement overall. We had rated Safe, Responsive, and Well Led as Requires Improvement. However, we had rated Effective and Caring as Good.
Following this assessment we rated the service as Good overall. We rated Safe, Effective, responsive and Well Led as Good and Caring as Outstanding.
The service had made improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations. Staff now assessed and mitigated risks. Medicines were managed safely and care plans now guided safe practice. The provider now had enough staff to ensure people’s safety and meet their needs.
Prior to this assessment, the BPAS Newcastle clinic had been registered separately as a stand-alone location and had been inspected in 2016. At that time CQC did not provide ratings for Termination of pregnancy services, although the service met requirements for all domains.