UK experts warn that unregulated high street pregnancy scan clinics may jeopardize the health of mothers and unborn babies due to insufficiently trained staff.
The Society for Radiographers (SoR) notes a surge in private clinics offering ultrasound scans, but hospital specialists report serious risks. They describe missed health problems, misdiagnoses, and instances where women were wrongly told their babies were malformed or had died.
“I had a patient referred for a possible miscarriage from a clinic. In our scan, we found a bleed in the womb, but we completely missed a very early pregnancy sac with a embryo inside,” said Katie Thompson, a hospital sonographer and SoR president. “If she had been at a private clinic offering miscarriage services, she might have received treatment to induce a miscarriage for a pregnancy that was actually progressing.”
SoR’s concerns extend to private clinics misidentifying ectopic pregnancies—life-threatening conditions—while also failing to detect other fetal or cervical problems. Elaine Brooks, a former hospital sonographer and Midlands regional SoR officer, recounted cases where patients later had NHS scans that revealed major abnormalities that should have been evident earlier, such as spina bifida or polycystic kidneys.
The revelations come as SoR urges making the title of sonographers a protected profession, restricted to those registered with a regulatory body. This is already the case for radiographers, dietitians, and speech and language therapists. Thompson warns that, currently, anyone can buy an ultrasound machine and start scanning, even in private settings. She cited examples of home-based scanning initiatives and individuals previously removed from professional registers offering private services.
SoR highlights cases where someone struck off for radiography-related misconduct worked in a private ultrasound clinic, underscoring the difficulty of verifying training without a formal register. However, she notes steps expectant parents can take: researching how long a clinic has operated, confirming both CQC registration and inspection history, and checking patient reviews. She also recommended seeking recommendations from midwives, GPs, NHS sonographers, and trusted contacts.
There are, however, reputable private clinics staffed by fully qualified professionals, Thompson said. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) acknowledges that sonography is not legally regulated, but notes that sonographers may voluntarily join the Register of Clinical Technologists, which allows patients to verify professional standards.
DHSC spokesperson: No parent should face the trauma of an incorrect diagnosis. We are committed to ensuring appropriate regulation for all health and care professions, so patients feel their care is in safe hands. Regulation is under review, and proposals from professional bodies will be considered carefully.
Related topics
