In 2002, monies were made available from the Department of Health to support antenatal screening. £337,000 was distributed across the West Midlands on a pro rata bases by birth rate. This generated extra funding from Trusts of £241,000. The allocation also helped to get the last few units to expedite implementation of RUG guidelines on dating pregnancies by ultrasound.

A survey of equipment used for ultrasound screening was undertaken in August 2006.

The region had 98 machines in use, 71% were capable of measuring nuchal translucency, and 31% were greater than 5 years old. Data were forwarded to the NSC.

A second tranche of ultrasound machines monies made available from the Department of Health to support antenatal screening. Monies totalling £731,700 were allocated to all but three West Midlands units. The NHS Purchasing Authority (PASA) negotiated discounts. Allocations were co-ordinated by the NSC and the criteria used for allocation were not known prior to the submission of data.