"Private baby scans show 'incredibly poor practice'"

[CoalCraft]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54527595

I've never personally been to a private scan so am not directly affected, but thought I would link for active who hasn't seen and might want to know.

For me it suggests that private scans are fine if you've already had an NHS scan and just want to see baby again, maybe take sometime with you to see, but should not be used for reassurance in place of seeing your midwife if you think something might be wrong. Very sad to see the chat group discussing observed foetal hydrops that they did not tell the parents about.

I know someone who after the 20 week scan went for a private and the nhs had failed to pick up a serious condition with the baby, and it was the private practice that picked it up and referred instantly.

I only use one, I'm sure there are lots out there that aren't great but I think if you do research like with anything then it's down to your own Judgment. The one I use I can't fault personally x

I had a MMC earlier this year. I had a scan at six weeks where the sonographer told me she could see a yolk sac; two weeks later I had another scan (I'd been having spotting and the EPU wouldn't see me) which clearly showed that there had been no development, but the sonographer refused to confirm that there was a problem and kept saying I might have got my dates wrong - even when I told her that was impossible as I would have had to have had a positive test before conception to make the dates fit.

She'd actually mislabelled the gestational sac as a yolk sac - there had never been a yolk sac visible at all. The whole experience was frustrating and I came away with no confidence in the staff's abilities. I wouldn't use a private clinic again (and having had two MCs, I'm not entitled to an early private scan on the NHS so won't need to next time I hopefully get pregnant).

@SlipperTripper that's terrible I'm so sorry

I had a private scan and the sonographer didn't know what to say or do and just gave me a leaflet on ectopic pregnancy when there was nothing in the sac. No phone number for the hospital or anything. Terrible after care.

I read this and was particularly concerned by the part that said:

"Meet Your Miracle says its scans are largely "recreational" and under its registration it cannot discuss any concerns unless they are relevant to the baby's heartbeat nor offer a potential diagnosis which requires further tests by the NHS."

So if they see something they CANNOT tell you unless its related to the heartbeat. I think that's dreadful.

I've had fabulous experiences with one particular independent scanners in the North. Compassionate, lots of time, lovely surroundings. This includes live pregnancies and a MMC, which was referred immediately to my local EPU (She called the unit for me). She even picked up my complete placenta previa in my last pregnancy, giving me plenty of time to read about it before my NHS scan. I think they're like everything, good and bad, do your research and ask for recommendations.

I was concerned to see that one of the companies have posted a lot of the reviews themselves. I booked a scan based on good reviews but now I learn all of them may not be real

I had a private scan at window to the womb and the sonographer turned out to be the same person who did my 12 and 20 week scans at the NHS hospital (private scan was at 30 weeks so had already met her twice).

I wonder if this is typical for those performing the scans at private "recreational" clinics?

I could have told them all of this without the need for the report! Ultrasounds are a medical procedure and whilst considered low risk should be used only where medically appropriate because we do not know if there is any potential harm. These private places prey upon both worried parents and the Instagram generation who want to pictorially document everything. Te nhs provides scans that are medically necessary for free. Covid has made it tricky this year because partners couldn't attend (though most hospitals gave footage to the mother to share) but this issue is about in normal times, these companies are parasites, complete waste of money and the people with less money are sucked into believing they need these scans.

I had a couple of scares when I was pregnant one of which was on a Friday night and I was told they couldn't scan me until the Monday, afterwards I was told that if it happens again I could of gone for a private scan on the Saturday. I wish I had of known this at the time as it caused a weekend of worry

@DieCryHate the sonographer who did my scan at Ultrasound Direct is also employed at the local NHS Hospital doing maternity ultrasounds. I think it's quite common.

I’ve got a “4D scan” booked in privately a week after my NHS 20 week scan as DH isn’t allowed to come to the 20 week scan.

My issue with private scan places offering early , reassurance scans is that it only reassures you for that point in time. Early pregnancy is a scary time and up to 12 weeks is the most likely time for things to go wrong hence why the nhs scans are when they are . An early scan isn't a guarantee that things won't go wrong- as an anxious person I never started to feel better till the 12 week scan (and didn't tell many people till the twenty week one tbh)
I've had some scares in pregnancy and one ended up being a miscarriage - but I'd been scanned (nhs) on the Saturday and all seemed ok but by the Monday it wasn't - at least as it was nhs I knew what to look out for and was able to go in again when things took a turn for the worst as I was already in the system.

My private scans were all excellent. I had to have my anomaly scan privately as the NHS wouldn't follow their own guidance to reschedule their offered scan which I legitimately could not attend. I also had a third trimester doppler scan which is only provided by some NHS Trusts but not mine.

I think people need to be cautious of the type of private practice they choose for private scans and also keep in mind that they do not replace the NHS screening scans. I personally wouldn't opt for 'Window to the Womb' chains as their websites appeared gimmicky and it appears to be a bit of a pregnancy scan conveyor belt. However, I have used private scans in the past for pregnancy (pregnant now, and would have more private scans if I feel its necessary). The practice I use perform a variety of private ultrasounds including abdominal scans, ovarian screenings, breast scans, testicular scans etc. and the website shows all members of staff with information about their qualifications. All scans are performed by consultant radiographers and sonographers with extensive experience and they provide you with the name of your sonographer and their qualifications when you book so there is an opportunity to make an informed choice (e.g. ask to be seen by a more experienced specialist if you want).

I must say though, there is a clear reason why so many of us rely on private scans when pregnant. NHS maternity care is not amazing by any stretch. In early pregnancy, when we often need even more reassurance, I'd go so for as to say maternity care/EPU care is non-existent and sadly COVID has made that far worse than usual.

It’s important to be clear on what these scans are and what will happen if they suspect a problem.

For me, I had one at 8 weeks. I had some brown discharge which is usually nothing to worry about so didn’t warrant an nhs scan. However, I was so so anxious something was wrong. My stomach was in knots. I was so stressed out about it. I booked a private reassurance scan and it gave me just that - reassurance that the baby had a heartbeat. The next 5 weeks until my NHS scan were fine and I was much more relaxed. I knew there were no guarantees but that seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks meant my odds of miscarriage plummeted dramatically from 1 in 4 to less than 2%. Even if all was not well at the NHS scan it was so so worth it just for those 5 weeks of peace.

I had a private scan at 6 + 5 as I wanted some reassurance. My booking in appointment was over the phone. I didn’t see a midwife until 16 weeks.

It depends where you go. The private scan place I have been to have a sonographer who also works in the local NHS hospital. She is extremely knowledgeable and it definitely isn't just a 'recreational' scan, nor is it described as such on the website. That article is dreadful, how awful for the parents.

I think, as mentioned by pp, that the NHS needs to be looked at with this too. I was told due to medical history I would normally have a 7week NHS scan but due to covid they were unable to offer me one. Therefore I booked one privately.

I've been to two places locally and luckily both have midwifes employed at the local hospital so I felt fairly confident with them.

I find it terribly sad, that the lady wasn't told about anencephaly in her scan, however it also wasn't picked up by her 12week NHS scan either. Same as the lady with an ectopic pregnancy - NHS also missed it (not that two wrongs make a right but surely the NHS need to pick up on these things!)

I think if there was better care especially during early pregnancy then the demand for these clinics would reduce drastically, however this is my first pregnancy so I can't comment if this is always the case or is just due to covid.

The huge increase this clinics is a direct response to the low quality care provided by the NHS.

The NHS doesn't offer low quality care. 12 and 20 week scans have been the minimum offered for years now. It's just that lots of women find out much earlier these days they are pregnant and therefore want scans at 6 and 7 weeks pregnancy. They want to do gender reveals etc

I think people need to be realistic that "window to the womb" and other such scan places are recreational only. If you want a private scan it's best to find a private maternity services clinic - most of the sonographers there also work at the local maternity hospitals

Some private scans provide poor practice.
Some NHS scans provide poor practice.

Any other exciting news, OP?

I've had a private investigative transvaginal ultrasound (not pregnancy related) with a private consultant. It cost £350. There's no way I would expect a private ultrasound at £80 or whatever it is to be of the same standard. Not least because it takes less than half the time. But with no doctor (or midwife) how can it be used to detect any issues? We are considering booking a private one because if I make it that far (had some bleeding and need to go back to the early pregnancy unit) my 12 week scan won't be until after Christmas and we we would like to tell family and have a photo to show them.

NHS care in early pregnancy is appalling. Maternity standards are pretty low as it is but overall it's nothing that you'd want to crow about on the world stage.

That article needs to be taken with a punch of salt, as with everything in the media. They even mention that many of the women that they spoke to has nothing but positive things to say, but then give one example of a women having a bad experience.

Having had 5 miscarriages, I've had lots of private scans over the last 4 years and I've had nothing but good experiences- in some case I've been provided with more accurate information than at NHS scans. It's sad that some women have had bad experiences, but I would imagine they are very much in the minority.

I had a private early scan as part of NIPT (they have to scan before taking the bloods to ensure the pregnancy is over 10 weeks). I had a good experience but they were very clear that they couldn’t offer any comment on the scan, other than to confirm that there is a pregnancy and that the size and appearance is in line with that expected at 10-11 weeks. The literature I was given was very clear that this was not in any way a replacement for NHS scanning.
I’d have NIPT again but I do think private scanning is generally unnecessary and just money grabbing.