FOUR in 10 ultrasound scans carried out by NHS trusts in England fail to fully check for abnormalities in unborn babies, according to a recent report.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommend 11 checks to be performed during ultrasound scans. These include studying the baby’s heart function, length of spine, counting bones in arms and legs and looking at head shape and size.

Yet a report from the Healthcare Commission published today found that just 61% of scans performed by trusts included all 11 checks.

Nice also raised the quality requirements for Down’s syndrome screening in April 2007, but only 11% of trusts reported meeting these standards for all.