Warning Over Private Baby Scans in Peterborough
Calls to regulate sonographers as unchecked clinics put pregnant women at risk
A Peterborough sonographer is warning that scans carried out in high street clinics could mean serious medical issues in pregnancy are being missed.
The Society of Radiographers says anyone with an ultrasound machine can currently call themselves a sonographer, with no legal checks in place.
It's very concerning
Rachel Nolan from the Society of Radiographers explained:
“So you've got people who've had very limited training. They can't make an accurate diagnosis. We've had instances where women have been told the baby has died; they're then sent into hospital, and the baby's absolutely fine."
"We've had women going for scans at around 16 weeks to be told, Yes, everything looks absolutely fine. You're having a boy; you're having a girl. And then when they come for their formal scan at 20 weeks, they are only to be told that the baby's got spina bifida or a heart defect or some other abnormality.”
“At the moment, the face stenographer is not a protected title. It's not a regulated profession. So anybody can go out there and use it."
"It's very concerning the number of these clinics that are popping up and the risks that these women are being put through."
So the aim is, say to get sonographer as a protected title to try and protect the public.”
The Society is calling for new rules to make sure only qualified professionals can perform pregnancy scans, to keep mums and babies safe.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
"No parent should face the trauma of an incorrect diagnosis, and our sympathies are with families affected."
"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."