Baby Scan Studio Ashford

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

The key question Responsive looked for evidence that the service met people’s needs through good organisation and delivery. The service provided information people could understand.

At our last assessment we rated this key question as good. We reviewed 5 quality statements during the recent assessment. The service made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service worked in partnership with people, and were able to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs.

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 were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs.

The service did not overbook clinics and did not operate a waiting list.

Managers planned and organised services, so they met the changing needs of the local population. The service offered a range of ultrasound scan procedures for private fee-paying adults aged 18 years and above.

The service made it clear on their website, service documentation and acceptance policy that women and birthing people 18 years and above, only, were able to use the service. If there was any doubt of the young person’s age, then the service would seek evidence of their date of birth. For example, passport or driver’s license.

Women and birthing people who had, had recent surgery on their lower pelvic area, a vaginal infection, contagious illness, or if the woman was less than 6 weeks pregnant did not meet the criteria within the acceptance policy to have a scan at the service.

Women and birthing people who were unable to give informed consent due to a lack of capacity were further reviewed as to whether they could use the service, to ensure women and birthing people’s best interests were always considered.

Women and birthing people had clear information and guidance regarding their care and treatment options, including any associated risks and benefits to the services offered. Women and birthing people were informed scans were to complement the NHS maternity pathway only and they were asked if they had their next routine scans in place.

The registered manager said there was a low rate of non-attendance because the service requested a non-refundable deposit payment on appointment booking.

The service understood the diverse health and care needs of people and their local communities, so care was joined-up, flexible and supported choice and continuity.

Since the last assessment, the service had in place an equality and diversity policy and all staff had attended in-house equality and diversity training.

Women and birthing people self-referred to the service through the service’s website. Appointments were booked for 15 minutes, which included scanning time and time for women and birthing people to ask the sonographer any questions.

Women and birthing people did not have to wait for scan results. Sonographers completed a wellbeing check of the foetus at the start of each ultrasound scan and a report was given at the end of every appointment for the woman to take away with them.

The service co-ordinated and delivered services with the needs and preferences of the local community in mind. For example, appointments took place after 5pm so that women, birthing people and their families could attend outside of working hours and at time where local car parking was free.

The service had introduced the use of transvaginal scans on the day of our assessment. The registered manager told the assessment team that the sonographers were highly experienced in completing transvaginal scans. The service introduced the scan to gain a more detailed image compared to an abdominal scan and to give a better understanding of the pregnancy. However, the registered manager was clear that the transvaginal scan was only completed if the sonographer was unable to gain an image from the abdominal scan.

The service supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats that were tailored to individual needs.

The service website provided information and advice that was accurate, up-to-date and provided in a way that women and birthing people could understand and met their communication needs. Information was accessible, safe and secure and supports their rights and choices.

Information about services offered at the location were accessible online. The service offered a range of ultrasound scans for pregnant women and birthing people, such as wellbeing, viability, growth, presentation, gender and 4D scans.

Staff gave women and birthing people relevant information about their ultrasound scan when they booked their appointment. This included whether they needed a full bladder and when was the best gestation for their scan.

Ultrasound scan prices were detailed on the service’s website, and we observed staff clearly explaining costs and payment options to women and birthing people during their appointments.

The scanning room had an adjustable couch and there was a computer and workstation available for women and birthing people to view their scan pictures.

The service states on their website, within guidance and posters that women and birthing people are scanned for long enough to achieve the purpose of the appointment only. With the services aim to protect both baby, women and birthing people in accordance with the BMUS guidelines.

The service made it easy for people to share feedback and ideas, or raise complaints about their care, treatment and support. Staff involved people in decisions about their care and told them what had changed as a result.

The service had an up-to-date complaints policy, which outlined procedures for accepting, investigating, recording, and responding to local, informal, and formal complaints about the service.

The service made it clear to women, birthing people and their families on how to provide feedback about their experiences of care including how to raise concerns and make a complaint.

We saw examples of where a complaint or negative feedback was received, and it was clear the registered manager responded quickly and was open and transparent.

Women and birthing people’s outcomes and experiences were monitored through online and social media reviews. The service also provided feedback cards and a non-accessible box in the waiting area.

The registered manager told us there had been no formal complaints. The registered manager monitored patient feedback online or through the feedback cards and was keen to follow up on feedback which was not positive to gain a further understanding of the woman’s experience.

The service made sure that people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it.

Providers use women and birthing people’s feedback and other evidence to actively seek to improve the service.

The service had put thought into clinic opening times. The service recognised that women and birthing people often wanted appointments either in the evenings or at weekends.

Staff and leaders actively listened to information about people who are most likely to experience inequality in experience or outcomes and tailored their care, support and treatment in response to this.

Staff supported women and birthing people to be in control of planning their care through supporting and offering information on scan packages. Women and birthing people were giving information on accessing local NHS maternity services and were provided with scan reports following each scan appointment.

Women and birthing people were supported to make informed choices about their care.

The service provided information based on current NHS guidance that was accurate, up to date and provided in a way that women and birthing people could understand.