Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic |
D3
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Overview & Contact Information
Early Pregnancy Referrals
If you, or your healthcare professional, have difficulty in completing this form, you may also phone 01225 825803 and leave an answerphone message detailing the patients name, date of birth, postcode and the reason for referral.
Both the online and voicemail inboxes are monitoring during normal working days 8am to 2pm. The clinic is not open on weekends or bank holidays.
About the clinic
The early pregnancy assessment clinic (EPAC) is a service for pregnant people between 5 and 16 weeks of pregnancy who have experienced pain, vaginal bleeding, or other early pregnancy complications.
If you are less than 5 weeks pregnant you should contact your GP for advice in the first instance. If you are more than 16 weeks pregnant you should contact the maternity triage line on 01225 826454.
Most pregnancies are healthy despite bleeding but some women find that their bleeding is due to a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. This is frequently a devastating and upsetting diagnosis. Please consider bringing someone with you to this clinic as you may need emotional support from a partner, family member, or friend.
How we will contact you
Once your referral has been reviewed, you will either be telephoned or receive a text message to the mobile phone number listed on the referral form.
If you receive a telephone call from one of our early pregnancy team (which may be from a withheld number) this will be either to ask for more information, or to give you advice. If you receive a text message, this will be for you to attend for an ultrasound scan and a review with the early pregnancy team.
All referrals will aim to be reviewed within 24 hours during the normal working week. It is important to note that an appointment may be offered on the same day as the referral is placed, and patients should therefore make themselves available to attend same day appointments if necessary. As this is a clinic for urgent referrals, it can be unpredictably busy, and you may be in the clinic for a number of hours.
This clinic is not for routine pregnancy booking appointments or scans, or to enquire about standard pregnancy care.
What will happen when I come for my appointment?
If you have received an appointment for a scan, you will attend your scan first, and then be seen by a member of the early pregnancy team.
The majority of ultrasound scans are internal (transvaginal) scans. Having an internal scan is your choice, however it usually provides the better images of the womb, ovaries and other organs within the pelvis, compared with an abdominal scan. Having an internal scan is not harmful for the pregnancy.
After the scan, the early pregnancy team will review and recap the information you gave on your referral form, discuss the results of the scan, and give information on any further investigations or treatment which may be needed.
In some cases, you may be invited to attend the early pregnancy clinic for a review, rather than a scan. If this is the case then this will be explained to you over the phone, prior to your appointment.
You may be asked to provide a urine specimen, so we can complete a pregnancy test, and screen for urine infections.
Location
The Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic is situated in Gynaecology Outpatients on ground floor of Zone D. The waiting area is at the end of the Gynaecology Outpatients corridor accessed by following the blue line from reception.
Address:
Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (Department D3)
Gynaecology outpatients
Princess Ann Wing
Royal United hospital
Bath
BA1 3NG
Contact Details
Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (EPAC):
Referrals should be completed by clicking here to refer yourself to the clinic. If you are unable to complete the online referral process, you can contact the clinics voicemail service on 01225 825803. Please note that leaving a voicemail will not mean your query is triaged or an appointment offered more quickly.
Gynaecology Outpatients:
01225 824664
NHS 111:
111
The Miscarriage Association
01924 200799
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
01895238025