Clinic to revolutionise ante-natal care

THE world's leading pregnancy expert, Professor Kypros Nicolaides, today reveals his plans to revolutionise maternity care for women in the capital.

The eminent doctor and ultrasound pioneer is set to open the first NHS pregnancy clinic offering all women early ante-natal screening.

In an exclusive interview with the Standard, Professor Nicolaides said the state-of-the-art centre will be the first model for similar clinics across the UK.

Professor Nicolaides, the director of King's College Hospital's foetal medicine unit, said: "I believe that pregnancy is a normal event and we shouldn't be putting women in hospitals. People often have a conflict between technology and the fact birth is natural. But the two are complementary. My vision is a centre equipped with the best facilities in the most natural environment."

His charity, the Fetal Medicine Foundation, has paid £3 million for the site in Denmark Hill.

The centre will be part of King's College but is separate from the main hospital. It will offer free care to any woman in a relaxing, "art gallery" environment.

Early screening is crucial for detecting abnormalities such as spinal tumours in unborn babies, letting doctors correct problems in the womb through keyhole surgery but many women are unable to obtain free 12-week tests unless there is a family history of health problems.

This means high-risk women often do not receive the care they need and may be faced with a late termination.

Women in London are also being denied choice over where they give birth because of midwife shortages.Professor Nicolaides said his new centre will identify high-risk patients so they can experience the best pregnancy possible.

The doctor, who developed an early test for Down's syndrome, said: "At the moment ante-natal clinics are packed with low-risk patients which means the time devoted to those with problems is severely limited."

Midwives will be on hand to advise expectant mothers. Women will not give birth there but doctors will perform operations on babies in the womb.