Window to the Womb Darlington

Updated 13 December 2021

Window To The Womb is operated by D I Harries Limited. The clinic opened in 2018 and provides private ultrasound services to self-funding women who are over the age of 16 and more than six weeks pregnant. Ultrasound scans are separate from NHS standard care pathways. The service operates from a dedicated clinic with step-free access and car parking.

The service has a registered manager in post.

The service is registered with CQC to undertake the regulated activity of diagnostic and screening procedures. We last inspected the service in March 2019 and rated it outstanding overall.

Updated 13 December 2021

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as outstanding 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 to women that was based on an ethos of continuous improvement and excellence. 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. Key services were available flexibly.
• Women were truly respected and valued as individuals. Staff empowered them as partners in their care, practically and emotionally, by delivering an exceptional and distinctive service.
• The service planned care to meet the needs of people who used the service, 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 for a diagnostic procedure.
• 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 who used the service. Staff were clear about their roles and accountabilities. The service engaged well with women to plan and manage services and all staff were committed to improving services continually.
• The leadership, governance and culture were used to drive and improve the delivery of high-quality person-centered care. The leadership team actively sought opportunities for improvement and evidence-based development through specialist collaboration.

We last inspected the service in March 2019. We told the service it should act to ensure the information presented to women regarding ultrasound safety was in line with Public Health England guidance. We asked the service to consider a change of infection prevention and control processes in the scanning room. At this inspection we found the registered manager had addressed both areas.

Updated 30 May 2019

Window to the Womb (Darlington) is an independent healthcare provider offering antenatal ultrasound imaging and diagnostic services to self-funding or private patients over 16 years of age. The service offers an early pregnancy clinic (from six to 15 weeks of pregnancy), and a later pregnancy clinic (from 16 weeks of pregnancy). Depending on the type of scan performed, these might involve checking the location of the pregnancy, dating of the pregnancy, determination of sex, and fetal presentation at the time of appointment. Patients are provided with ultrasound video or scan images, and an accompanying verbal explanation and written report.

Updated 13 December 2021

Window to the Womb Darlington is an independent healthcare provider offering antenatal ultrasound imaging and diagnostic services to self-funding or private patients over 16 years of age. The service offers an early pregnancy clinic (from six to 15 weeks of pregnancy), and a later pregnancy clinic (from 16 weeks of pregnancy). Depending on the type of scan performed, these might involve checking the location of the pregnancy, dating of the pregnancy, determination of sex, and fetal presentation at the time of appointment. Patients are provided with ultrasound video or scan images in 2D, 3D or 4D, and an accompanying verbal explanation and written report. The service is led by innovation in technology-based care and has clinical oversight for referring women onward to NHS services.