Baby Scan Studio Ashford

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

The key question Effective is not rated for diagnostic assessments. However, we found the service met women and birthing people’s outcomes and were consistently good.

A variety of systems were used to inform the service of the effectiveness of care given and staff were regularly updated of any emerging changes.

We looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

We assessed 6 effective quality statements and found staff followed up-to-date policies to plan and deliver high quality care according to best practice and national guidance.

The service planned and delivered women and birthing people’s care and treatment with them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

Women and birthing people were informed and understood when and how they would receive their scan images and results prior and during their appointment.

Staff assessed and monitored women and birthing people regularly to see if they were in pain. During scans we observed the sonographer asked women and birthing people if they were comfortable or experiencing any pain.

Staff understood how and when to assess whether a patient had the capacity to make decisions about their care.

Staff talked with women, birthing people and their families in a way they could understand, and the service provided information in a larger format if required.

The service had access to translation services and women and birthing people were asked to notify the service in advance of any communication support or translation services.

Staff made sure women, birthing people and their families understood their care and treatment. The services website provided clear information about scanning options available and the appropriate time in a pregnancy for these to take place. The service provided information on its website, leaflets and posters of specialist organisations and counselling services.

All women and birthing people received written information to read and sign before their scan. This included information on what is and is not included in the scan package, information on medical records, consent, and use of data. The pre-scan questionnaire and declaration form included a self-declaration stating the woman was receiving appropriate pregnancy care and consent to share information with the NHS if required. We reviewed pre-scan questionnaires and saw they had all been fully completed. Staff clearly recorded consent within women and birthing people’s records.

The service planned and delivered women and birthing people’s care and treatment with them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

Staff were experienced, qualified, and had the right skills and knowledge to meet the needs of women and birthing people. All sonographers were qualified and experienced professionals who held full time positions within the NHS.

Baby Scan Studio policies were found to be up to date and related specifically to the service. Policies were reviewed yearly by the registered manager. Staff were aware of how to access policies, which were stored electronically as well as in paper format. Policies and protocols were in line with current legislation and national evidence-based guidance from professional organisations, such as British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS).

The registered manager told us women and birthing people were offered a re-scan if the baby was in a difficult position and the sonographer was unable to obtain scan images.

The service worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services.

Sonographers used referral pathways to ensure women and birthing people received timely on-going care, such as when they identified foetal deformities or a miscarriage. The registered manager provided women and birthing people with a referral letter and scan report and a list of NHS services to access following any potential concerns found on scans.

The registered manager would follow up with women and birthing people referred the next day via text message.

From January 2024 to December 2024 the service had completed 96 referrals to local NHS maternity services. We observed the reasons for the referral and a clear report of the sonographer’s scan and advice was recorded.

The provider supported women and birthing people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control.

Women and birthing people were informed before, during and after that scans provided for by the service should not replace any routine NHS antenatal scans. The service website provided information and links to information on pregnancy and birth, healthy lifestyle and exercise.

The service routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

The service used feedback from clients to improve service provision and quality. The service encouraged women and birthing people to provide feedback through online reviews, social media reviews or email.

Regular compliance audits were completed by the registered manager to monitor the service’s performance and to identify any areas where improvements could be required. The audit looked at key performance indicators to review the number of bookings, re-scan rates and accuracy of gender confirmations scans.

The service had completed 2,323 scans in total from January 2024 to December 2024. Scans completed were early scans, reassurance scans, gender scans, growth scans and growth 4D scans.

The service had achieved 100% accuracy rate for gender confirmation since opening the service. If the sonographer was not able to confirm the gender of the baby, then the clinic offered a re-scan free of charge. This information was displayed in the clinic. The registered manager told us women and birthing people were offered a re-scan if the baby was in a difficult position and the sonographer was unable to obtain scan images. There were 24 women and birthing people who required to be re-scanned between January 2024 to December 2024.

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

The service ensured women and birthing people completed and signed a pre-scan questionnaire and declaration form. The service made it clear on their website and in all pre-scan questionnaire and consent forms that women should attend all NHS scan appointments and scans completed at the service were not a replacement for NHS scans.

The pre-scan questionnaire gave consent for information to be shared with an NHS care provider if required. It also enabled women to confirm they were receiving appropriate pregnancy care from the NHS.

Staff understood the relevant consent and decision-making requirements of legislation and guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and knew who to contact for advice. Staff told us that if they were unsure a woman using the service had capacity then they would speak to the registered manager and the scan would not be carried out. However, staff told us they had never been in a position where a woman was unable to give consent.

Staff gained consent from women and birthing people for their care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance. This included written and verbal consent. Consent was gained upon arrival when women and birthing people signed in at reception, using an electronic tablet which included terms and conditions as well as information about their scan. Consent was also gained at various stages throughout the scanning process.