Window To The Womb

Updated 6 July 2022

Window to the Womb, Alton, is operated by ANA Services Ltd and operates under a franchise agreement with Window to the Womb (Franchise) Ltd. The service provides wellbeing pregnancy ultrasound services to self-funding women across Alton and surrounding areas. All scans carried out include wellbeing as the primary purpose.

Window to the Womb has separated their services into two clinics: the ‘First-scan’ clinic, which specialises in early pregnancy scans and a ‘Window to the Womb’ clinic which offers later pregnancy and wellbeing scans (Window scans).

The service provides ultrasound baby imaging for pregnant women. This includes four dimensional (4D) and two dimensional (2D) early scans starting from 6 week gestation, foetal health and gender scans from 16 weeks, baby growth scan from 26 weeks. The service provides wellbeing imaging for adults over the age of 16 years. It is registered to provide the regulated activity of diagnostic and screening procedures.

The service had a registered manager in place. We have not inspected this service before.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology.

Updated 6 July 2022

We had not previously rated this service. We rated it as requires improvement because:

• The service did not carry out updated fire risk and safety assessments
• The service did not have policies that reflected current guidance, legislation or best practice for staff
• The service did not ensure that staff adhered to policies
• The service did not always take account of women’s individual needs
• Leaders were not always aware of their legal accountability regarding the Health and Social Care Act 2008

However,

• The service had enough staff to care for women and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills. The service demonstrated management of infection risk well in practice. The service managed safety accidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women and provided access to good information.
• Staff treated women with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity. They provided emotional support to women.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people. The service made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long their results.
• Leaders supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of women. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The service engaged well with women and staff were committed to improving services continually.

We rated this service as requires improvement because it was requires improvement for safe and leadership. It was however good for caring and responsive and not rated for effective.

Updated 6 July 2022

We had not previously rated this service. We rated it as requires improvement because:

• The service did not carry out updated fire risk and safety assessments
• The service did not have policies that reflected current guidance, legislation or best practice for staff
• The service did not ensure that staff adhered to policies
• The service did not always take account of women’s individual needs
• Leaders were not always aware of their legal accountability regarding the Health and Social Care Act 2008

However,

• The service had enough staff to care for women and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills. The service demonstrated management of infection risk well in practice. The service managed safety accidents well and learned lessons from them.
• Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women and provided access to good information.
• Staff treated women with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity. They provided emotional support to women.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of local people. The service made it easy for people to give feedback. People could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long their results.
• Leaders supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of women. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The service engaged well with women and staff were committed to improving services continually.

We rated this service as requires improvement because it was requires improvement for safe and leadership. It was however good for caring and responsive and not rated for effective.