The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospital
  • Independent hospital

Window to the Womb

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

23 The Grove Centre, Witham, Essex, CM8 2YT (01376) 512744

Provided and run by:
1st Glimpse Limited

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Window to the Womb on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Window to the Womb, you can give feedback on this service.

19 November 2021

During a routine inspection

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as good because:

  • The service had enough staff to care for women and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect women from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to women, acted on them and kept good care records. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them. Staff collected safety information and used it to improve the service.
  • Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information.
  • Staff treated women with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to women, families and carers.
  • The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of women’s individual needs, and 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 ran services 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 receiving care. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with women and the community to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.

We last inspected the service in February 2020. Our overall rating of this service stayed the same. We rated it as good.

11 February 2020

During a routine inspection

Window To The Womb is operated by 1st Glimpse Ltd. Facilities include a ground floor single storey clinic with direct access from the pedestrianised shopping centre. There is one scan room, reception area, kitchen and staff area. The scan room contains an ultrasound machine, medical couch, sofa, sink and projector.

Window To The Womb offer a wide variety of gender scans and 4D ultrasound scans. They provide diagnostic obstetric ultrasound services for pregnant women (aged 18-65) from six weeks to full term.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out the short notice announced part of our inspection on 11 February 2020.

To get to the heart of women 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.

Services we rate

We had not previously rated the service. We rated it as Good overall.

  • The service provided mandatory training in key skills to all staff and made sure everyone completed it.

  • The design, maintenance and use of facilities, premises and equipment kept people safe. Staff were trained to use them.

  • 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 understood how to protect women from abuse and the service worked well with other agencies to do so.

  • Staff kept detailed records of patients’ care and treatment and records were up-to-date, stored securely and easily available to all staff providing care

  • Women could access services and appointments in a way and a time that suited them. The service used technology innovatively to ensure women had timely access to ultrasound scans.

  • The service provided care and treatment based on national guidance.

  • Managers monitored the effectiveness of care and treatment and used the findings to improve them.

  • Staff were caring, compassionate, kind and engaged well with women and their families.

  • The service treated concerns and complaints seriously. If a complaint received the registered manager would complete a comprehensive investigation and share lessons learnt with all staff.

  • Leaders had the skills and abilities to run the service. They understood and managed the priorities and issues the service faced. They were visible and approachable in the service for women and staff.

  • Staff worked well together. They supported and respected each other.

  • Staff felt respected and valued. They were focused on the needs of women and their families.

However:

  • Written reports were not clearly written meaning that it was difficult to interpret scan details.

  • The clinical waste bin located outside the clinic did not have a lock meaning that clinical waste was not stored securely.

  • Information leaflets were not available in any language other than English

Following this inspection, we told the provider that it should make improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve.

Name of signatory

Heidi Smoult

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals