BPAS - Luton

Updated 25 July 2022

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) provides a medical and surgical termination of pregnancy service in Luton, Bedfordshire.

BPAS Luton has contracts with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the Luton, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire areas to provide a range of termination of pregnancy services. This includes pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy counselling, early medical abortion, early surgical abortion, abortion aftercare, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, contraceptive advice, and contraception supply.

Most patients are funded by the NHS (National Health Service), some patients choose to pay for services themselves and in addition, the clinic offers services to paying overseas patients.

The location is registered to provide the following regulated activities:  

• Termination of pregnancies  

• Surgical procedures  

• Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury  

• Family planning  

• Diagnostic and screening procedures  

The location has a manager registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) Luton is centrally situated in the city of Luton and is easily accessible by public transport or car. BPAS Luton provides services from 11am until 5pm on Monday, closed on a Tuesday, 8.30am until 2.30pm on a Wednesday and 8.30am until 4.30pm on a Thursday and 8.30am until 2.30pm on a Friday. On Saturdays, the clinic is open between and 9.30am and 1.45pm.

At BPAS Luton, 2027 patients were seen; 1,734 medical abortions and 293 surgical abortions were carried out between April 2021 and May 2022. Patients of all ages, including those aged under 18 years are treated at BPAS; 65 patients under the age of 18 years received treatment at the clinic between April 2021 and May 2022.

The government approved the home-use of misoprostol in England from 1 January 2019. On 30 March 2020, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care made two temporary measures that superseded this previous approval. These temporary arrangements were aimed at minimising the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensuring continued access to early medical abortion services during the COVID-19 global outbreak. The temporary arrangement meant that;

Pregnant women, including young women under 18 years old, would be able to take both Mifepristone and Misoprostol for early medical abortion, up to nine week and six days gestation, in their own homes without the need to first attend a hospital or clinic.

It is possible for a medical practitioner to provide a remote consultation and or prescribe medication for an early medical abortion from their own home. i.e. rather than travelling into a clinic or hospital to work.

BPAS Luton clinic was last inspected 17 and 18 November 2015. We did not rate the service at the last inspection. We did find some areas of improvement, all of which had been addressed.

Updated 25 July 2022

We rated it as good because:

The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.

Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to eat and drink, and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available seven days a week.

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 patients, families and carers.

The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. Patients could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.

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 patients 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.

However,

Staff compliance with mandatory training was not always within agreed targets. Leaders had plans in place to make improvements within agreed timescales.

Patients waited longer than national targets from consultation to treatment.

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

Updated 25 July 2022

We rated it as good because:

The service had enough staff to care for patients and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, understood how to protect patients from abuse, and managed safety well. The service controlled infection risk well. Staff assessed risks to patients, acted on them and kept good care records. They managed medicines well. The service managed safety incidents well and learned lessons from them.

Staff provided good care and treatment, gave patients enough to eat and drink, and gave them pain relief when they needed it. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service and made sure staff were competent. Staff worked well together for the benefit of patients, advised them on how to lead healthier lives, supported them to make decisions about their care, and had access to good information. Key services were available seven days a week.

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 patients, families and carers.

The service planned care to meet the needs of local people, took account of patients individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. Patients could access the service when they needed it and did not have to wait too long for treatment.

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 patients 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.

However,

Staff compliance with mandatory training was not always within agreed targets. Leaders had plans in place to make improvements within agreed timescales.

Patients waited longer than national targets from consultation to treatment.

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