Changes to pregnancy scans to monitor babies’ growth
16/07/2026
An independent review of the fetal growth scanning pathway is also being commissioned
The way babies’ growth is monitored during pregnancy by our local hospitals is being brought into line with national NHS guidance.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says more pregnant women will now be offered additional growth scans in the later stages of pregnancy if there are any concerns that their baby may not be growing as expected. This will apply even if earlier scans have shown no problems.
The changes follow a review of the trust’s maternity services and feedback received.
Women who are currently pregnant and receiving care from the trust do not need to take any action. Midwives and doctors will discuss any changes that affect individual pregnancies at future appointments.
An independent review of its fetal growth scanning pathway is also being commissioned. That follows criticism in Baroness Amos’ National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, which directly challenged the Trust’s approach using its local “OxGIP” scanning programme.
The investigation found the programme’s blanket approach led to the trust’s clinical capacity being overwhelmed with routine appointments, thereby denying or delaying essential fetal growth scans for high-risk women who possessed a genuine clinical justification.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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