Health

UK radiographers warn of safety risks as unregulated baby scan clinics proliferate

Tuesday, 4 November 2025 5:11AM UTC

Leading radiographers in the UK urge for tighter regulation of private baby scan clinics amid rising concerns over unqualified operators performing potentially dangerous diagnoses, risking maternal and fetal health.

Leading radiographers in the UK have raised serious alarms about the safety risks posed by unregulated high street clinics offering baby scans without qualified specialists. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has revealed multiple disturbing instances where babies were misdiagnosed as deceased, critical medical emergencies like ectopic pregnancies were overlooked, and significant abnormalities went undetected. These failings have caused distress and potential harm to expectant mothers and their babies.

The SoR highlights a worrying trend: unlike other healthcare professionals who must be qualified and regulated, anyone with an ultrasound machine can currently label themselves a sonographer. This regulatory void allows people without proper training to perform scans, resulting in dangerous consequences. One stark example involved a mother being advised to have an induced miscarriage after a private clinic mistook a blood clot next to a healthy foetus for a malformed pregnancy. Fortunately, hospital sonographers intervened in time to prevent harm, but the experience left the mother distraught.

Other examples documented by the SoR include missed diagnoses of ectopic pregnancies, which can be life-threatening, and failure by some clinics to detect conditions such as spina bifida, polycystic kidneys, and fluid-filled brain ventricles during scans before the standard 20-week NHS check. There are also reports of outdated medical advice being given based on misdiagnoses, such as recommending two weeks of bed rest for cervical problems.

The Society of Radiographers is now calling for sonographers to have a “protected” job title, meaning only those with recognised qualifications and registered with a regulatory body could legally use the term. This would help ensure patients know who is performing their scans and provide mechanisms for complaints and accountability, currently lacking in many private clinics. Katie Thompson, SoR president and hospital sonographer, emphasised that patients assume qualified professionals conduct such sensitive scans, unaware anyone can presently buy an ultrasound machine and claim the title. Without regulation, patients cannot be confident in the operator’s competence or safety standards.

Concerns also extend to cases where individuals banned from working in NHS hospitals have found employment in private clinics, raising questions about oversight and safeguarding. Gill Harrison, the SoR’s professional officer for ultrasound, highlighted how patients often are unaware of the credentials of the person conducting their scans, and feel shocked when they discover a sonographer might lack qualifications or have been struck off professional registers.

The Department of Health and Social Care expressed sympathy for families affected by incorrect diagnoses and reiterated its commitment to reviewing healthcare professional regulations to ensure patient safety remains paramount. They stated they would carefully consider any proposals from professional bodies regarding the regulation of sonographers.

In addition to concerns about safe practice, the SoR has highlighted issues around advertising by private pregnancy scan providers. The Advertising Standards Authority has raised questions about some advertisements implying ultrasounds can guarantee fetal health or provide early reassurance on wellbeing, which the SoR warns can mislead expectant parents about what scans can reasonably reveal, particularly in early pregnancy.

As private high street baby scan clinics continue to grow in popularity, the lack of robust regulation and verified qualifications among operators poses significant risks. The SoR’s call for tighter controls and a protected title aims to safeguard mothers and babies from misdiagnoses and unsafe care, which in some cases could have tragic consequences.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (The Independent) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
^[2] (ITV News) - Paragraph 1, 11
^[3] (Evening Standard) - Paragraph 1, 11
^[4] (Society of Radiographers) - Paragraph 2, 4, 5
^[5] (Sky News) - Paragraph 3, 6
^[6] (The Independent Bulletin) - Paragraph 1, 2
^[7] (Society of Radiographers) - Paragraph 12

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/sonographers-scan-clinics-unregulated-baby-diagnosed-b2857848.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.itv.com/news/2025-11-03/radiographers-sound-alarm-over-high-street-baby-scans - Leading radiographers have raised serious concerns about 'unsafe' high street clinics offering baby scans without a trained specialist. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) highlighted instances where babies were misdiagnosed as deceased, and critical medical emergencies were overlooked. They emphasized that anyone with an ultrasound machine can call themselves a sonographer, leading to potential risks for mothers and babies. The SoR is calling for sonographers to have a 'protected' job title, ensuring only qualified and registered individuals can use the title. The Department of Health and Social Care has stated a commitment to appropriate regulation for health professions and promised to consider proposals from professional bodies.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/experts-nhs-midlands-department-of-health-and-social-care-b1256141.html - Leading radiographers have raised serious concerns about 'unsafe' high street clinics offering baby scans without a trained specialist. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) highlighted instances where babies were misdiagnosed as deceased, and critical medical emergencies were overlooked. They emphasized that anyone with an ultrasound machine can call themselves a sonographer, leading to potential risks for mothers and babies. The SoR is calling for sonographers to have a 'protected' job title, ensuring only qualified and registered individuals can use the title. The Department of Health and Social Care has stated a commitment to appropriate regulation for health professions and promised to consider proposals from professional bodies.
https://www.sor.org/news/sonography/unregistered-sonographers-pose-a-danger-to-mothers - The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has raised alarms over 'unsafe' high street clinics offering baby scans conducted by unqualified sonographers. They highlighted cases where healthy fetuses were misdiagnosed as dead or malformed, leading to unnecessary procedures. The SoR emphasized that while other health professionals require qualifications and regulation, anyone with an ultrasound machine can call themselves a sonographer. They are calling for sonographers to have a 'protected' job title, ensuring only qualified and registered individuals can use the title.
https://news.sky.com/story/radiographers-raise-concerns-about-unsafe-nature-of-high-street-baby-and-pregnancy-scans-13463172 - Leading radiographers have raised concerns about the safety of high street baby scans, with reports of misdiagnoses and missed medical emergencies. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) stated that when scans are performed by those without proper training, they can lead to 'unsafe' situations for the mother and the baby. They highlighted examples of misdiagnosed blood clots, missed ectopic pregnancies, and undetected abnormalities. The SoR is calling for sonographers to have a 'protected' job title, ensuring only qualified and registered individuals can use the title.
https://www.the-independent.com/bulletin/news/pregnancy-scan-ultrasound-baby-misdiagnosis-b2857196.html - Leading radiographers have voiced grave concerns over 'unsafe' high street clinics providing baby scans without qualified specialists. Reports detail instances of babies being wrongly diagnosed as deceased, critical medical emergencies being overlooked, and major abnormalities missed. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) highlighted a surge in such pregnancy scan clinics, noting that while other health professionals require qualification and regulation, anyone with an ultrasound machine can currently claim to be a sonographer. The SoR is calling for sonographers to have a 'protected' job title, meaning only those with qualifications and registered with a regulatory body would be able to use the title.
https://www.sor.org/news/ultrasound/sor-warning-following-advertising-complaints-over - The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has issued a warning following advertising complaints over private pregnancy ultrasound scans. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) raised concerns about the ability of an ultrasound scan to assess the health of and provide reassurance about the wellbeing of a fetus, particularly in early pregnancy. The SoR emphasized the need for clarity in advertising, ensuring that expectant parents are aware of what information the scans can reasonably provide. They also highlighted the importance of transparency in informing parent-centred decisions.

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Notes: The narrative has appeared in multiple reputable outlets, including The Independent, ITV News, and Sky News, all reporting on the Society of Radiographers' concerns about unregulated high street baby scan clinics. The earliest known publication date is November 3, 2025. The articles and statements from various sources are consistently dated on November 3, 2025, indicating recent activity.

Healthcare regulation
Baby scans
Patient safety