Archived: Window to the Womb

Updated 5 July 2022

Window to the Womb is owned by SPS Retail Services Ltd, and operates under a franchise agreement with Window to the Womb (WTTW) (Franchise) Ltd. The service provides diagnostic pregnancy ultrasound services to self-funding women living in Birmingham and surrounding areas in the West Midlands.

Window to the Womb in Birmingham opened in November 2016 and provides scans pregnancy scans from six to 40 weeks to self-funding women. The scans offered by the service are early pregnancy scans, foetal health scans, gender scans and 4D scans.

The service is available to women aged 18 years and above. However, young women from the age of 16 can also use the service if accompanied by an appropriate adult. All ultrasound scans performed at Window to the Womb are in addition to those provided through the NHS as part of a pregnancy care pathway.

Window to the Womb is registered with the CQC to carry out the following regulated activities:

Diagnostic and screening procedures

Updated 5 July 2022

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 had systems in place to manage safety incidents well and learn 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.
• Women were very complimentary about the service they received. The service increased the range of options available to meet the needs of local people, took account of women's individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. Women could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait for 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.

Updated 5 July 2022

This is the first inspection of the service. We rated it as good. See the summary above for details.

We rated this service as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.