Katherine O’Brien, BPAS Associate Director of Campaigns and Communications:
“The rise in unregulated private ultrasound is a cause for concern. Pregnancy can be an extremely anxious time for women, and we have previously heard of women spending a significant amount of money for multiple “reassurance” scans, which are not being provided by a licensed medical professional. It is completely understandable that a woman and their partner or family would assume that an ultrasound machine would be being operated by a clinician. Sadly, there have been reports of private clinics not providing women with accurate information, including being evasive about the detection of a fetal anomaly. More needs to be done to regulate these services.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Katherine O’Brien, BPAS Associate Director of Campaigns and Communications, on katherine.o’brien@bpas.org or 07881 265276.
About BPAS
BPAS is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/
In 2021, BPAS launched BPAS Fertility, England’s first not-for-profit fertility service, to provide ethical, evidence-based, person-centred care that supports patients. We provide a safe, high-quality, and accessible service, without profiteering from patients. Our service gives those ineligible for NHS funding an affordable option to access the care they need.