Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit
We have Early Pregnancy Assessment Units (EPAU) at both our Poole and Royal Bournemouth hospitals. You can read more about each of them below.
The Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Our nurse-led specialist unit is located at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on the first floor of the Jigsaw Building.
We offer urgent assessment for women who present with pain/bleeding when 6-14 weeks' pregnant and can assess, scan and in the majority of cases offer you a diagnosis or treatment within 24-48hours.
We also see patients with a history of a previous ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy and recurrent miscarriages (three or more consecutive).
Unfortunately we are not a walk-in service, but happily accept referrals from GPs, Emergency Departments, midwives and other healthcare professionals.
If you have a confirmed miscarriage, we are able to talk you through your options in accordance with the NICE Guidelines.
Please note our appointments are in the mornings.
Meet the team
Lead Sister Vanessa Wood has a gynaecology background, working in women's health since 1986 and within EPAU since 2007.
Wendy Copping, our Deputy Sister, has been part of the team since June 2015 and previously was as a Bowel Cancer Nurse Specialist.
Before coming to the clinic
Please refer to the current hospital guidelines regarding attending hospital here. Patients and partners attending will both need a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) 24 hours prior to their appointment. Advice for how to book an LFT can be found here, and our patient information leaflet provides further details here.
The time spent in the unit may vary. The average time can be 1-2 hours. At times this may be longer due to meeting the individual needs of all our patients.
At the clinic
You should have been advised not to eat or drink anything before your first appointment, unless you have already had a scan confirming a viable pregnancy. If you feel you need to eat or drink, please check with the nurse first.
You will be seen by one of our nurse specialists who will ask you some questions and arrange a scan if appropriate. Once you have had your scan and the nurse has your results, you will be seen again to discuss the next steps, which may include the need for a blood test to be taken at the unit.
Our specialists can also:
- decide whether you are able to safely go home
- explain why you need to stay in hospital
- arrange a follow-up appointment at the unit
- ask you to phone the unit at a certain time for your test results
Unless you ask us not to, we will send your GP information about the care we have given you.
