Background to this inspection
Updated
7 February 2019
This report relates to diagnostic imaging services provided by The Fetal Medicine Centre.
The Fetal Medicine Centre (FMC) opened in 1996 and since then has provided ultrasound examinations and invasive testing for fetal abnormalities and pregnancy complications. The FMC profits are donated to a U.K. charity. The founder and director of the FMC is Professor Kypros Nicolaides, who was also the Nominated Individual for the service. There are six other consultants that currently provide services to the FMC as well as several doctors undergoing postgraduate training in Fetal Medicine at a NHS Trust in London. Since 2012, the service began offering non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) which is a screening test that uses maternal blood to screen for the most common syndromes that are detected during pregnancy. Patients with high risk pregnancies or NIPT results are examined by ultrasound and when necessary they undergo invasive procedures in order to try and provide a definite diagnosis.
The service provides ultrasound examinations to private patients for people attending from all over the United Kingdom.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) report from the last inspection, published in January 2015 showed The Fetal Medicine Centre met the five standards inspections, taken from the essential standards as described in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 and the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009.
Updated
7 February 2019
The Fetal Medicine Centre was located in the basement at 137 Harley Street, London. The service had a reception on area. There were six scan rooms in the premises as well as a small laboratory for blood collection and blood processing. The laboratory was located at the back of the reception area. The service had five toilets three of these being in scan rooms. The service also had offices for the doctors/management and a telephone switchboard room with backrooms used for storage and for record keeping.
The service has had a registered manager in post since 2012.
The Fetal Medicine Centre was registered to provide the following regulated activities:
During the inspection we spoke with four staff including; the deputy manager, consultant and two sonographers. We also spoke with four patients.
There were no special reviews or investigations of the unit ongoing by the CQC at any time during the 12 months before this inspection.
The service conducted 700 scans per month. Staff in the service consisted of one whole time equivalent (WTE) registered manager, 1 WTE deputy manager, 1 WTE team leader, 1 WTE laboratory technician and 6 WTE receptionists. There were six consultants that currently provide services to the Fetal Medicine Centre as well as several doctors undergoing postgraduate training in Fetal Medicine at an NHS trust in London. The Nominated Individual also worked one day each week.
Every year The Fetal Medicine Foundation awards a two-year training fellowship in fetal medicine. The practical training is undertaken at the Fetal Medicine units at an NHS trust.. Some fellows will be selected to provide services at the Fetal Medicine Centre and as part of their development they provide their services free of charge at the service.
The aim of the Fetal Medicine Foundation is to assess the risk for pregnancy complications at such an early time in pregnancy that this may give doctors the chance to reassure patients, and to prevent pre-eclampsia and premature birth, which are major contributors to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Track record on safety
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No Never events.
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No serious injuries.
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No incidences of healthcare acquired Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
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No incidences of healthcare acquired Meticillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).
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No incidences of healthcare acquired Clostridium difficile (c. diff).
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No incidences of healthcare acquired Escherichia coli (E-Coli).
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No deaths.
Services provided under service level agreement:
Updated
7 February 2019
We rated this service as good because it was safe, caring and responsive and well led. We do not rate effective in this type of service.