COVID-19: Visiting the Early Pregnancy Unit
Please could all patients call EPU on 01932 722662 before you come to the unit and certainly before you enter the Abbey Wing building.
This unit is situated on the ground floor of Abbey Wing and cares for women with early pregnancy problems. This service is provided Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and referrals are made from midwives, GPs, and other medical staff. Please note that this is not a walk-in service.
When you arrive you will be booked in by the Receptionist who will take your details and ask for a mobile no. that we can contact you on confidentially.
You will also routinely be asked for a urine pregnancy test.
As a result of the limited space within our clinical rooms and the emergency nature of our service, we may only be able to allow one individual to accompany you into the clinical area.
You will be triaged by a nurse who will take your history, including your medical history and details of why you have presented to EPU along with your clinical observations i.e. BP, pulse.
If indicated, you will have a scan by either the doctor or one of the experienced Senior Sonographers in The Abbey Wing Ultrasound Dept. The scan is usually performed transvaginally with prior consent, as this makes it easier to get detailed images of what is happening with the pregnancy. This may be uncomfortable and will NOT harm the pregnancy. If a woman declines an internal scan, an abdominal scan may be performed but the images may not be clear enough for us to tell you what is happening with your pregnancy.
If required you will then have further review which may include blood tests and a follow up plan. Please use this opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
We understand these processes may take some time but we will always do our best to complete your clinical assessment promptly.
