Private baby scan clinics are putting expectant mothers at risk

The BBC has reported that the Society of Radiographers (SoR) has issued a warning about the risks posed by some private and high-street clinics that allow unqualified individuals to perform baby scans. These clinics often offer private ultrasound services to expectant mothers, such as reassurance, gender reveal, or souvenir scans. These scans are sometimes before the routine 20-week NHS check.

The SoR claims that this practice is putting pregnant women at risk, as people perform these scans without proper training. In some reported cases, women have been wrongly diagnosed with severe health conditions, leading to dangerous and unnecessary advice. There are examples of a private clinic telling one woman that her pregnancy had no heartbeat and the baby was severely malformed, only to discover the baby was completely healthy following a scan at the hospital.

The SoR highlights cases where critical conditions, including spina bifida, polycystic kidneys and ectopic pregnancies, were either missed entirely or were misdiagnosed by private sonographers. In one case, a radiographer continued to work in private practice despite having been struck off the NHS register for sexual misconduct.

It is acknowledged that some private clinics employ adequately trained staff and provide excellent care. Still, it is the “pop-up” temporary clinics offering low-cost scans that lack adequate regulation that cause significant concern. These types of clinics, which can provide non-medical related scans, such as for gender reveals, are not always staffed by certified sonographers, which is where missed and/or unsafe diagnoses take place, which are both a danger to the mother and the baby.

The Society is calling for the title “sonographer” to be protected in the UK, meaning only qualified and registered individuals would be allowed to perform medical scans. While some sonographers working in private clinics are qualified midwives or radiographers, there are currently no legal requirements for certification. The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care has expressed concern about the risks and recommended that the government consider stronger regulation.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which inspects private healthcare facilities, has stated that many clinics provide good quality care. However, it acknowledges concerns about staff training, consent procedures, and the handling of unusual or concerning findings. The BBC reports that the CQC has vowed to take action against any providers failing to meet required standards. Meanwhile, the Department of Health has reiterated that patient safety is a top priority and assured that they are reviewing proposals to strengthen the regulation of ultrasound professionals.

Amanda Cavanagh, Associate in the Ashtons Legal Medical Negligence team, comments: “Being pregnant is probably the most wonderful but also worrying time for parents. There needs to be more education and awareness about the provision of scans by unregulated, untrained staff at these “pop-up” venues. The false reporting and/or false reassurance could have devastating consequences for the safety of both mother and baby”.

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