The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospital
  • Independent hospital

Window to the Womb Also known as Window to the Womb Manchester

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Unit 9, Quays Reach Business Park, Carolina Way, Salford, Lancashire, M50 2ZY (0161) 745 9646

Provided and run by:
D. I. Harries Manchester Ltd

All Inspections

During an assessment of Diagnostic imaging

We rated the service as Good. Staff consistently praised the manager’s supportive leadership. An open and honest culture was evident, with opportunities for career development and work-life balance. Systems ensured smooth transitions between providers, and staff had appropriate training and competencies.

The service was sensitive to the emotional needs of women attending scans. Early and late pregnancy clinics were scheduled separately to avoid distress. This approach supported women with previous pregnancy losses and those experiencing anxiety. Consent processes followed best practice. Staff were kind, compassionate, and responsive to questions. Flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends, ensured accessibility.

During an assessment of the hospital overall

We inspected using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out a short announced inspection on 30th October 2025. We assessed all quality statements from the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions.

Window to the Womb in Salford is owned by D I Harries Manchester Ltd and trades as Window to the Womb. The service provides private ultrasound services to self-funding women who are over the age of 16 and more than six weeks pregnant. The service offers pregnancy scans, pelvic scans, fertility scan, general health scans, and blood tests. Window to the Womb has separated their services into two clinic types, ‘firstScan’ clinic sessions specialise in early pregnancy scans up to 15 weeks gestation. ‘Window to the Womb’ clinic sessions offer later pregnancy scans.

The service had a registered manager in post since initial registration and was registered with the CQC to provide diagnostic and screening procedures. No controlled drugs were used. We visited all areas of the clinic, including reception, waiting room, quiet room, viewing area, and scan room. Six staff were interviewed, including the clinic manager, deputy manager, two sonographers, and a scan assistant. Two women and four relatives also shared their views. Staff and patient records were reviewed, and two scans were observed. No special reviews or investigations had been carried out by the CQC in the 12 months prior to inspection.

The service had enough staff to keep women safe. Staff were trained in key skills, safeguarded women from abuse, and managed safety and infection risks effectively. Risk assessments were carried out and documented appropriately. Safety incidents were managed well, with learning shared across the team.

Care and treatment were good. Managers monitored performance and ensured staff were competent. Staff worked collaboratively, supported women in making informed choices, and provided access to relevant information. Services were tailored to meet women’s needs.

Women were treated with compassion and respect. Staff maintained privacy and dignity, responded to individual needs, and offered emotional support to women and their families.

Care was planned around the needs of the local population. Feedback was encouraged, and access to services was timely, with no waiting list.

Leadership was effective. Reliable information systems supported service delivery and staff development. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, felt respected and supported, and were clear about their roles. The service engaged well with women and the community, and staff were committed to continuous improvement.

28 November 2019

During a routine inspection

Window to the Womb in Salford is owned by D I Harries Manchester Ltd and trades as Window to the Womb. The service provides diagnostic pregnancy ultrasound services to self-funding women across Greater Manchester.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out a short-notice announced visit to the clinic on 28 November 2019. We gave staff one working days’ notice that we were coming to inspect to ensure the availability of the registered manager and clinic.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led? Where we have a legal duty to do so we rate services’ performance against each key question as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The main service provided by this clinic was diagnostic imaging.

Services we rate

We had not rated this service before. We rated it as Good overall.

  • The service had enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep people safe from avoidable harm and to provide the right care. Managers appraised staff’s work performance annually and checked to make sure staff had the right qualifications and professional registration for their roles.

  • Staff assessed risks to women, they kept clear records and asked for support when necessary. Staff kept records of women’s appointments, referrals to NHS services and completed scan consent documents

  • The service controlled infection risk well. The clinic had suitable premises and equipment which met the needs of people who accessed the service. This included people who accompanied women and children.

  • The service made innovative use of technology to provide women with ways to access the service and their scan images. They had developed a mobile phone application which enabled women to document and share images of their baby.

  • The service had clear governance arrangements that were appropriate to the size and scope of the service. Senior managers from the franchisor actively engaged with managers of the service and clinic staff. All managers promoted a positive culture that supported and valued staff.

Ann Ford

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals (North)