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Private anomaly scan (20-week scan) in London, by a fetal-medicine specialist.

A proper anatomy scan by a fetal-medicine specialist - not a 4D souvenir video. Findings, when they occur, are explained in the room and referred to a tertiary centre the same week if needed.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

What parents should know

  • 01

    A specialist, not a sonographer alone

    A consultant fetal-medicine specialist performs the scan - the same clinician who would review a finding in the NHS.

  • 02

    Answers in the room

    Findings, when they occur, are explained on the day, with an onward tertiary referral made the same week if needed.

  • 03

    Independent information

    This page is general information. It is not a referral, booking or recommendation service.

Indicative pricing

What a private anomaly scan costs in London.

Indicative ranges for private fetal-medicine services in London.

In short

£250–£450, with findings discussed in the room.

Scan type Indicative range
20-week anomaly scan £250–£450
Advanced fetal-medicine anomaly scan £400–£800
Fetal echocardiography £450–£900
Growth scan (28–40 weeks) £180–£350
4D bonding scan (24–32 weeks) £200–£400
Cervical length scan (mid-trimester) £180–£300

Prices vary by clinic, by the specialist, and by whether fetal echocardiography or Doppler is added.

The problem

A twenty-week scan is one of the most important scans of your life.

It deserves a specialist. Look for a consultant fetal-medicine doctor - the same clinician who would review a finding in the NHS - with an onward tertiary pathway if anything is found.

  • A soft marker was seen elsewhere?

    A longer, higher-resolution look by a fetal-medicine specialist - with fetal echo if indicated.

What it shows

A head-to-toe fetal anatomy check.

The scan is systematic - organ system by organ system, to the FASP standard.

  • Full fetal anatomy check

    A systematic head-to-toe examination of every organ system, to the FASP standard.

  • Growth and amniotic fluid

    Biometry and liquor volume - early markers of placental or fetal problems.

  • Placental position and cord

    Placental site, cord insertion and vasa praevia screening where indicated.

  • Fetal heart (basic + optional detailed)

    Four-chamber, outflow tracts and three-vessel views, with fetal echo available as an add-on.

  • Fetal spine

    Sagittal, coronal and axial views along the length of the spine.

  • Fetal brain

    Ventricles, cerebellum, cavum and posterior fossa.

  • Facial clefts and limb screening

    Face profile, orbits, upper lip and long bones of all four limbs.

  • Red flag: reduced fetal movements

    Reduced fetal movements need same-day maternity assessment - call your maternity unit.

Scan types

Not all pregnancy scans are the same.

What each option is actually for, at which gestation.

  • 20-week anomaly scan

    The mid-pregnancy structural scan, to the FASP standard - the one every pregnancy should have.

  • Advanced fetal-medicine anomaly

    A longer, higher-resolution scan by a fetal-medicine specialist - for higher-risk pregnancies or a soft marker seen elsewhere.

  • Fetal echocardiography

    A detailed cardiac scan by a fetal cardiologist - indicated by family history, diabetes, or a cardiac soft marker.

  • Growth scan

    Serial biometry, liquor volume and umbilical artery Doppler - from 28 weeks.

  • 4D bonding scan

    A three-dimensional look at the face and hands. Best between 24 and 32 weeks - not a diagnostic scan.

  • Cervical length

    Transvaginal measurement in the mid-trimester, where preterm-birth risk is being watched.

  • Doppler studies

    Umbilical, middle cerebral and uterine artery Dopplers, for placental function assessment.

  • Follow-up detailed anomaly

    A repeat scan to clarify or follow a finding seen on an earlier scan.

Safety and expectations

Safe - but not a guarantee.

Ultrasound is one of the safest tests in medicine. What varies is what it can - and cannot - see.

  • Optimal timing 20–22 weeks

    The anomaly scan is designed for this window. Earlier and structures are too small; later and the fetus is too big to see everything.

  • Not every anomaly is detectable

    Even the best scan, in the best hands, detects around 50–95% of anomalies depending on the organ system.

  • Scan quality varies

    Maternal habitus and fetal position affect image quality. Occasionally a repeat scan is offered.

  • A "soft marker" isn’t a diagnosis

    Soft markers are common in normal babies. They prompt further assessment, not a conclusion.

  • Fetal echo is a specialist add-on

    A detailed heart scan is a separate specialist examination - arranged where clinically indicated.

  • A normal scan is reassuring, not a guarantee

    A normal anomaly scan doesn’t guarantee a healthy baby - some conditions appear later, or not on ultrasound at all.

  • This is not a "gender reveal" party

    Findings can be serious. The scan is medical - bring a partner for support.

  • Take a partner for support

    You are welcome to bring one adult with you into the room.

  • Share results with your NHS midwife

    Please share the written report with your NHS midwife so your booking record stays complete.

Reading your report

An anomaly-scan report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Every report keeps to the same four parts. The impression, at the bottom, is written to be read first.

A fetal-medicine specialist reviewing anomaly-scan images on a clinical workstation at a UK private clinic

A quiet reminder

Share the report with your NHS midwife - your booking record should stay complete.

If anything is unclear, ask the reporting clinician to talk you through it before your next appointment.

  1. 01 Header

    Gestation and previous scans

    Your details, the gestation on the day, and any previous scans referenced.

  2. 02 Technique

    Views obtained

    Which anatomical views were obtained, and any views that were limited by position or habitus.

  3. 03 Findings

    Organ-by-organ

    A systematic description of each organ system, with biometry, liquor volume and placental site.

  4. 04 Impression

    Read this first

    Normal, a soft marker, a structural finding, or a referral - stated plainly and up front.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Frequently asked

Common questions about the anomaly scan.

Quick answers on timing, cost, limitations, fetal echo and results.

  • What does the 20-week anomaly scan show?

    A systematic head-to-toe check of your baby’s anatomy - brain, spine, heart, abdomen, kidneys, face and limbs - plus growth, amniotic fluid volume and placental position.

  • When should it be done?

    Between 20 and 22 weeks is optimal. Earlier and structures are too small to see reliably; later and the fetus is too big to visualise everything.

  • What are its limitations?

    Even the best scan detects only around 50–95% of anomalies, depending on the organ system. Scan quality is also affected by maternal habitus and by how the baby is lying.

  • How much does a private anomaly scan cost in London?

    An advanced fetal-medicine anomaly scan is £400–£800, and a fetal echo £450–£900.

  • I’ve had an NHS anomaly scan - why have a private one?

    Most women are reassured by the NHS scan alone. A private scan is usually chosen for a longer, more detailed look by a fetal-medicine specialist, or where the NHS scan raised a question.

  • What is a fetal echo and do I need one?

    A specialist heart scan performed by a fetal cardiologist. It is indicated by a family history of congenital heart disease, maternal diabetes, or a cardiac soft marker seen on the anomaly scan.

  • What if my baby’s movements have reduced?

    Reduced fetal movements need same-day assessment by your maternity unit - please phone them directly. A private appointment is not the right route for this.

  • What is a 4D bonding scan?

    A three-dimensional look at the face and hands, best done between 24 and 32 weeks. It is a keepsake scan, not a diagnostic one, and does not replace a proper anomaly scan.

  • When will I get the results?

    Findings are discussed in the room, on the day. A written report is issued within 48 hours, and copied to your NHS midwife on request.

  • When should I see a GP urgently?

    Reduced fetal movements, vaginal bleeding, sudden severe abdominal pain, a bad headache with visual changes, or a fever - contact your maternity unit or GP the same day.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

Booking anomaly scan privately in London - what actually happens

With anomaly scan, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Waiting lists on the NHS for anomaly scan vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, a slot inside the same week is often possible, sometimes within 48 hours if there’s a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality - the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS - it’s the calendar.

Once you’re in the private system for anomaly scan, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different - one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For anomaly scan specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

Honesty about expectations is part of the job. A private anomaly scan appointment in London won’t change the underlying medicine - the guidelines, the consultants, and the equipment are largely the same as on the NHS. What it changes is speed, continuity, and the amount of time you get to actually talk through the findings. Check that any consultant you see is on the GMC specialist register and that the facility is registered with the CQC.