Early pregnancy

EARLY PREGNANCY ASSESSMENT UNITS: EPSOM AND ST HELIER

The early pregnancy assessment units (EPAU) at our hospitals are for patients experiencing pregnancy complications in the early stages of pregnancy, such a vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. We see patients up to 15 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy (unless patients have a confirmed delayed miscarriage, in which case EPAU will see them until 19 weeks and 6 days). The units are by appointment only and are open Monday to Friday. If you have concerns you can either refer yourself directly, be referred by your GP, your midwife or from our A&E departments. We unfortunately are not able to welcome children into the unit, and ask that patients make alternative childcare arrangements before attending their appointments.

 

The Early Pregnancy Services Team

Lead Consultant Epsom EPAU: Miss Nadia Amokrane

Lead Consultant St Helier EPAU: Miss Asli Ucyigit

Senior Midwifery Lead: Emma Doherty

Deputy Midwifery Lead: Alison Jones

Epsom EPAU Midwifery Team:

Lisa Yates

Jo Bakr

St Helier EPAU Midwifery Team:

Catherine Mcloughlin

Antonia Baldrey

Reasons we may see you in EPAU include:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• A history of a previous ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy

St Helier Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit at St Helier Hospital is open by appointment only, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12pm midday. The EPAU is located on the ground floor of E block (Women’s Health) at St Helier.

For advice or to make an appointment, please call 020 8296 2882.

Please note, the EPAU clinic tends to be busy, and the midwife may not be able to answer the phone during clinic times. If there is no answer, please leave a brief message and clear contact details on the answer machine and the midwife will return your call on the same working day.

Epsom Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit at Epsom General Hospital is open by appointment only Monday to Friday, from 9:30am to 11:30am. The EPAU is located on the ground floor in block L2 (Langley Wing). 

For advice or to make an appointment, please call 01372 735 155.

This is a voicemail service and will be answered between 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Outside these hours, if you are unwell, are experiencing heavy bleeding or severe pain, or need to be seen urgently, please attend the Emergency Department.

At weekends and on Bank Holidays, please contact NHS 111 for advice.

 

Services offered

Miscarriage:

We provide support for those experiencing or who have been diagnosed with a miscarriage, and can advise you on expectant, medical and surgical management options. Both Epsom and St Helier hospitals offer medical management as an option, and surgical management is available to all patients, undertaken at the St Helier site. This includes treatment with MVA (manual vacuum aspiration) under local anaesthesia, or surgical management under general anaesthesia, and both options are available 5 days a week. MVA under local anaesthesia is also available at Leatherhead Hospital, on selected days.

 

Ectopic pregnancy:

We offer support for those who have an ectopic pregnancy, and will provide guidance on all treatment options, including expectant management (when appropriate), medical management with methotrexate, and surgical management including salpingotomy and salpingectomy.

 

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy):

Many women, up to 80%, will suffer from nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy; hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is the severe form, affecting up 3.6% of women. Once a diagnosis of HG has been made by your GP, or by doctors in the Emergency Department, our Ambulatory Gynaecology Unit at St Helier Hospital can provide a fast-track, self-referral service for the treatment of HG. This service also accepts patient referrals from healthcare professionals.

This Ambulatory Hyperemesis Service is available on Monday to Friday afternoons, at St Helier Hospital, by appointment, for women who are under the care of both Epsom and St Helier Hospitals. Please call the Ambulatory Hyperemesis Service Nurse on 07425 692397 between 8am and 10am on weekdays, to arrange an afternoon appointment for assessment, and treatment with intravenous fluid therapy and anti-sickness medications. This telephone number is only available between 8am and 10am; any referrals outside of these times will not be received unfortunately. For very severe or urgent cases, please contact your GP or present to the Emergency Department outside of these hours.