Little Miracles at Northern Sonography

Updated 3 July 2023

The service is a private baby scanning organisation offering reassurance, growth and gender scans for women over the age of 18 years who were at least 6 weeks pregnant. These were either abdominal or transvaginal and completed by a qualified sonographer who is the CQC registered manager.

The location was registered for diagnostic and screening procedures in January 2022 and now offers abdominal scans to patients who self refer for general medical purposes.

In the last 12 months, the service had carried out 987 obstetric scans and 9 general medical ultrasound scans.

This was the first inspection for the service.

Updated 3 July 2023

This was the first inspection. We rated it as good because:

• The service had staff to care for women and patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect women and patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to women and patients, acted on them and kept good care records.
• Staff provided good care. The manager monitored the effectiveness of the service and was competent and skilled. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women and patients and supported them.
• Staff treated women and patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity and took account of their individual needs They provided emotional support to women and patients and their partners if needed.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of women and patients individual needs, and made it easy for them to give feedback. Women and patients could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait long for an appointment.
• The registered manger ran the service well using reliable information systems and supported staff to develop their skills. Staff understood the service’s vision and values, and how to apply them in their work. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of women and patients receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with women and patients and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

However:

• The receptionist who also acted as a chaperone had not completed the appropriate checks and training for this role: training in safeguarding was level one rather than level two. The DBS check had been requested to standard rather than enhanced.
• Hazardous substances, such as scanning gel, were stored in an unlocked cupboard. Scanning gel was decanted from a larger container rather than single use or pre filled bottles.

Updated 3 July 2023