Look Before You Book - Pregnancy Scans

Did you know that anyone can call themselves a sonographer and carry out private pregnancy scans?  Even if they have no training or qualifications.
 

When you see the Quality Mark, shown here, it's a sign that you're booking an appointment with a practitioner who is on a government-backed register. This means they are qualified, need to have the right insurance, and have a complaints process you can use if something happens that you're not happy with. 
 

Checking your sonographer?
Sonographers can have different professional backgrounds. Some are registered as radiographers with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), as midwives with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or as doctors with the General Medical Council (GMC). Before you book, ask the person carrying out your scan which professional register they are on and check their registration. You can also find a sonographer from one of the registers below.

• Register of Clinical Technologists. Check out the register below with a list of sonographers you can choose from
• HCPC: check a radiographer's registration 
• NMC: check a midwife's registration
• GMC: check a doctor's registration

For peace of mind, always Look Before You Book.