Life Through The Lens - Stoke Centre

Updated 16 April 2026

Date of assessment: 18 February 2026.

Life Through The Lens-Stoke Centre is a private ultrasound service who provide 2D, 3D and 4D images. Services offered include 4D scans, confirmation scans, sexing scans, and growth scans. The scans are not intended to be diagnostic and do not replace routine hospital scans. They service provided early pregnancy scans up to 14 weeks gestation. They did not provide emergency obstetric care.

We completed a fully comprehensive unannounced inspection on the 18 February 2026, and rated it as Requires improvement we found: .

Some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed. People’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.

At this assessment we found 4 regulations had been breached in relation to governance, staffing, safe care and treatment and person-centred care.

Following this inspection, we told the provider that it must take some actions to comply with regulations. We issued the provider with a S29 warning notice.

In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward or, if we have requested an action plan, this will be requested upon publication of the final report.

Updated 5 January 2026

Some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed. People’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.

The service did not always make adjustments for service users or ensure they could obtain information, for example on how to make a complaint. People’s needs were not always met. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.

However.

Staff had access to the equipment and information technology needed to do their work.

Staff engaged with local hospitals and told us they had a good working relationship with them. Staff understood the importance of linking in with local hospitals.

Staff told us and we heard from service users how if the scan was unclear for any reason or if the service user was unhappy with the outcome of any scan, they would be rescanned at no extra cost. Friends and relatives were able to attend the scan if they wished to ensure the patient had support and felt they were involved. Service users' children were also able to attend if they wished.

We observed a good working relationship between the sonographer and the receptionist on the day of the inspection.