The Care Quality Commission
  • Hospital
  • Independent hospital

Window To The Womb

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Cross & Pillory House, 4 Cross & Pillory Lane, Alton, GU34 1HL (01420) 541111

Provided and run by:
Anaservices Alton Ltd

All Inspections

During an assessment of Diagnostic imaging

Date of assessment: 13 November 2025

We conducted a site visit assessment of the service on 13 November 2025. This assessment was conducted because of risk and aged rating. We assessed 33 quality statements across safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

Window to the Womb Alton, is operated by Anaservices Alton Ltd, as part of a national franchise of independently owned and operated baby scanning clinics. The leadership team for this location manage other services locally.

We refer to women in this report, but we recognise that some transgender men, non-binary people and people with variations in sex characteristics (VSC) or who are intersex may also use services and experience some of the same issues.

During our inspection, we visited the reception area, the scanning room, administrative areas and other rooms used within the business. We spoke with six members of staff including the CQC registered manager. We also observed three scanning appointments and reviewed the policies, records and procedures.

The service had enough staff to keep people safe and maintained good day to day safety standards. Care and treatment were effective, and people were treated with compassion and respect. Staff consistently maintained privacy and dignity and actively encouraged feedback.

However, we identified areas for improvement in governance arrangements.

Although policies and systems were available and staff demonstrated knowledge of safe practice; leaders did not ensure these systems were consistently implemented or monitored. Leaders did not take sufficient steps to identify and respond to people’s individual needs.

At our previous assessment of the service, we rated it Requires improvement, at this assessment we rated Good.

At our previous assessment of the service, we identified breaches of regulations relating to safe environments and governance. These breaches have now been fully addressed, and the necessary improvements have been implemented to ensure compliance.

At this assessment, while the previous issues have been rectified, we have identified new breaches of regulations relating to governance. These breaches are in different areas from those previously identified.

During an assessment of the hospital overall

Date of assessment: 13 November 2025. Window to the Womb Alton, is operated by Anaservices Alton Ltd, as part of a national franchise of independently owned and operated baby scanning clinics. The leadership team for this location manage other services locally. This was a planned assessment of a diagnostic imaging service.

At our previous assessment of the service, we rated it Requires improvement, at this assessment we rated Good.

The service had enough staff to keep people safe and maintained good day to day safety standards. Care and treatment were effective, and people were treated with compassion and respect. Staff consistently maintained privacy and dignity and actively encouraged feedback. However, we identified areas for improvement in governance arrangements.

At our previous assessment of the service, we identified breaches of regulations relating to safe environments and governance. These breaches have now been fully addressed, and the necessary improvements have been implemented to ensure compliance.

At this assessment, while the previous issues have been rectified, we have identified new breaches of regulations relating to governance. These breaches are in different areas from those previously identified.

19 April 2022

During a routine inspection

We had not previously rated this service. We rated it as requires improvement because:

  • The service did not carry out updated fire risk and safety assessments
  • The service did not have policies that reflected current guidance, legislation or best practice for staff
  • The service did not ensure that staff adhered to policies
  • The service did not always take account of women’s individual needs
  • Leaders were not always aware of their legal accountability regarding the Health and Social Care Act 2008

However,

  • The service had enough staff to care for women and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills. The service demonstrated management of infection risk well in practice. The service managed safety accidents well and learned lessons from them.
  • Staff provided good care and treatment. Managers monitored the effectiveness of the service. Staff worked well together for the benefit of women and provided access to good information.
  • Staff treated women with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity. They provided emotional support to women.
  • The service planned care to meet the needs of local people. The service 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 their results.
  • Leaders supported staff to develop their skills. Staff felt respected, supported and valued. They were focused on the needs of women. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The service engaged well with women and staff were committed to improving services continually.

We rated this service as requires improvement because it was requires improvement for safe and leadership. It was however good for caring and responsive and not rated for effective.