Four health boards denymothers vital second scans

SCOTLAND'S biggest health boards are still not giving women two ultrasound scans during pregnancy – four years after guidance recommended this as standard practice.

In February 2004, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) said pregnant women should routinely receive two scans – one around 12 weeks and another around 20 weeks.

But four health boards are still not routinely offering the second scan.

The 20-week scan can reveal problems which could not be found at the early scan, such as brain abnormalities and problems with heart, bowel, kidneys, limbs and cleft lip.

Yesterda,y campaigners called for an end to the "patchwork" provision of scans in Scotland.

Next Wednesday marks four years since NHS QIS published guidance based on extensive evidence stating that two routine scans should be offered. The guidance was launched at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, run by NHS Lothian – one of the health boards yet to routinely offer both scans to all women.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Highland also have yet to introduce the second scan.

In contrast, Grampian, Ayrshire and Arran, Fife, Forth Valley, Tayside and Dumfries and Galloway have all provided routine scans around 12 weeks and 20 weeks for some time.

Campaigners said some women spent hundreds of pounds on private scans.

While the 20-week scan is not available routinely in all areas, some health boards said it was provided where doctors had extra concerns about a patient. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the routine 20-week scan was currently only available in its Clyde hospitals.

"We are looking at providing a second 20-week scan as part of the implementation of our maternity strategy for Glasgow," a spokeswoman said.

NHS Lothian said it expected to start offering routine second scans from August, once new staff were fully trained.

NHS Lanarkshire provides routine scans at 12 weeks, but a spokeswoman said they were still recruiting staff to deliver routine 20-week scans.

NHS Highland said it usually did 12-week scans and about a third of women at 20 weeks. It "has recently agreed to provide funding to extend the full service to all."

Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust, said: "It is frustrating we have this patchwork provision. The guidance is that both scans should be routinely provided."

Gillian Smith, acting director for the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland, said it was important all women had equality of access to scans and she regretted that "if a woman can afford to pay for a scan herself, she will pay for it. If she can't… tough."

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it was work-ing with NHS boards to ensure all units offered second scans.