UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Experts warn UK’s unregulated pregnancy scan clinics may misdiagnose conditions, give false miscarriage claims, putting mothers and babies at risk.
As reported by The Guardian, health experts warn Britain’s high street pregnancy scan clinics could endanger mothers and babies due to untrained staff.
What did the Society of Radiographers say about high street scan clinics?
The Society for Radiographers reports a sharp increase in high street scan clinics.
Experts warn that hospital staff have seen cases of misdiagnoses and missed conditions, including false claims of malformed or deceased babies.
Katie Thompson, a hospital sonographer and president of the SoR, stated,
“I had a lady referred for a potential miscarriage from a clinic and when I scanned her they’d measured a bleed in the womb and they completely missed a very early pregnancy sac with a baby inside it.”
She stated,
“Potentially, if they were at a private clinic that could offer a miscarriage service, then they could have been given some medication to bring on a miscarriage on a pregnancy that was actually not miscarrying.”
The revelations emerge as the SoR calls for a “protected” sonographer title, ensuring only fully qualified and registered staff can hold it. The rule already applies to professions such as radiographers, dieticians, and speech and language therapists.
Ms Thompson said,
“At the moment, absolutely anybody can go and buy an ultrasound machine and set up a practice without any qualifications whatsoever. And that has happened.”
She added,
“There has been somebody that bought a machine and started scanning in her front room because after having a baby, she thought it’d be a nice thing to do.”
Ms Thompson warned that individuals removed from professional registers may still offer private ultrasound services.
She said the lack of a professional register makes it difficult to verify training, but patients can take certain safety steps. This involves verifying a clinic’s years in operation, ensuring it has been inspected by the CQC, and reviewing patient feedback.
Ms Thompson suggested seeking recommendations from midwives, family, friends, GPs, and NHS sonographers for clinic guidance.
She added,
“There are some excellent private clinics around that have fully qualified staff.”
The SoR warns that some private clinics have given false ectopic pregnancy diagnoses, a potentially life-threatening condition. They have also failed to detect actual ectopic pregnancies, cervical problems, and abnormalities in unborn babies.
What did Elaine Brooks say about missed abnormalities in private scans
Elaine Brooks, a former hospital sonographer, said some patients often had private “sexing” scans shortly before their 20-week NHS appointments.
She stated,
“One time, we had a lady referred in from a private clinic who was eight or nine weeks pregnant. The sonographer at the private clinic said there was no heartbeat for the baby and that the baby was very, very malformed, and they sent her in for an induced miscarriage.”
Ms Brooks said,
“The trust I was working in never accepts reports that come in from private clinics, so we started scanning the lady, who was in tears. On the scan there was clearly a beautiful nine-week pregnancy with a heartbeat. It was absolutely fine.”
She stated,
“Next to the pregnancy was a blood clot – what they’d done is measured the blood clot. But there was a foetus of normal appearance above it. If the hospital had given her the medication the private clinic had recommended, that baby would have miscarried.”
Ms Brooks added,
“The mother was absolutely over the moon – but also very distraught, because she’d been knocking back the wine all weekend.”
According to her, private scans taken weeks before the 20-week NHS appointment can fail to detect serious fetal abnormalities.
She added,
“And then they come for their NHS scan and there’s quite a large abnormality that should have been picked up – something like spina bifida, polycystic kidneys or fluid-filled ventricles in the head – things that you wouldn’t expect to have developed in a week.”
What did Gill Harrison say about unqualified staff performing ultrasound scans?
Gill Harrison, the SoR’s professional officer for ultrasound, stated,
“Patients often don’t know who’s conducting their scan. Many are appalled when they realise that someone with no qualifications, or who has been struck off a professional register, can still perform their ultrasound scan.”
What did the Department of Health say about sonography regulation and patient safety?
The Department of Health and Social Care said sonography is not legally regulated, but sonographers can voluntarily join the Register of Clinical Technologists to demonstrate professional competence.
A spokesperson stated,
“No parent should face the trauma of an incorrect diagnosis, and our sympathies are with families affected.”
They added,
“We are committed to ensuring appropriate regulation for all health and care professions so patients can feel confident their care is in safe and qualified hands. The regulation of healthcare professionals is kept under review to ensure patient safety remains paramount. We will carefully consider any proposals from professional bodies regarding this.”
Which licenses are required to open an ultrasound clinic in the UK?
To open an ultrasound clinic in the UK, registration with the Care Quality Commission is required, as ultrasound imaging is a regulated diagnostic and screening procedure in England.
Clinics must ensure their sonographers hold adequate professional qualifications, such as a postgraduate certificate in medical ultrasound.
Which countries allow sexing scans?
Countries that allow sexing scans or fetal gender selection, often through IVF with preimplantation genetic testing or ultrasound, include:
- Thailand, Cyprus, Iran, Mexico, United States (some states), Albania, Georgia, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Malaysia.
- Thailand and Singapore allow sex determination via ultrasound, with Thailand restricting it mainly for medical reasons; Dubai allows sexing scans but not abortion based on gender.