17th June 2024
A pilot project is improving the experience of women attending Craigavon Emergency Department with early pregnancy problems.
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust Emergency Department (ED) team have linked with colleagues within the Early Pregnancy Problem Clinic (EPPC) and together created a better pathway for women who present to the ED in need of early pregnancy care.
The teams engaged with service users and listened to their feedback as part of this new initiative to improve clinical outcomes and ensure women are provided with timely services, access to information and appropriate follow-up.
The teams hope to roll this out across Daisy Hill Emergency Department once the pilot project has been completed.
Gaby Smyth, Lead Nurse in the ED, said that this new pathway means that women will be directed to the right service for their needs at the first point of contact.
“Women who present to the ED will be assessed at triage, prioritised and directed to the EPPC, which is a specialist nurse-led service (under the guidance of Obstetric and Gynae Consultant and Specialty Doctors) who manage early pregnancy problems. They recently extended their opening hours to 50 hours a week to help women have access to the most appropriate pathway.
“The Emergency Department is a very busy environment and on average we see two women per day with early pregnancy problems and we know that this is not the best place for them. That is why we have listened and engaged with women and families to try and make this journey better for them.
“We are pleased that the results from the pilot project so far show that the wait time for women to be seen has reduced.”
As part of the project, women are also advised that they should not leave the ED without a discharge advice leaflet, which has also been updated as part of the project.
Trudy Reid, Director of Medicine and Unscheduled Care, said:
“Feedback has told us that women feel that the ED is an inappropriate place for them when they are experiencing early pregnancy problems.
“I am proud of our teams for working collaboratively and listening to the patients’ voice to see what we can adopt across our services to enhance the patient experience and ensure that women get the right service in the right place at the right time.”
Women can also self-refer to the EPPC at Craigavon Hospital (open Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm) by phoning 028 3756 0293 or at Daisy Hill Hospital (open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am – 12.30pm) by phoning 028 3756 2754 or 028 3756 2755. If women are experiencing heavy bleeding or severe abdominal pain outside of these hours, they are advised to Phone First, contact Urgent Care or attend the Emergency Department.