Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust are delighted to receive the news that the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) Team are finalists in the 2024 Nursing Times Award for Critical and Emergency Care Nursing.
The Early pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) provides nurse led outpatient care to women with problems or concerns in early pregnancy between 6 and 12 weeks. Prior to Autumn 2023 the team worked as a self-contained unit within the Gynaecology Emergency Room, using only two scan rooms making them limited to what they could provide to patients, especially regarding management of miscarriage.
In 2021 the team began to think about ways they could improve the service for patients, this included more space, to have their own dedicated unit, to provide privacy for patients and a separate waiting area to the emergency room. All of which were echoed by feedback from patients.
In 2022 discussions began again regarding the move and following collaboration with senior nursing staff, senior medical staff, and the Bedford team the EPAU move was back on the cards.
Following the release of the pregnancy loss review in July 2023 the team utilised the findings alongside patient feedback to finally steer the journey of improving the service with it becoming its own sperate unit located on the second floor of the hospital. They now have their own waiting area for patients creating a better environment and more space to be able to offer miscarriage management.
Rebecca Holland, Deputy Head of Nursing – Gynaecology at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust said “I am so proud of the team and the dedication they have shown to our improvement journey for early pregnancy, they didn’t give up for their patients and continue to look into ways they can make further changes – well done to you all.”
The team continue to make changes and have plans in the future to improve the service by creating miscarriage management clinics, telephone clinics and to increase the scan service.
Details on how you can access EPAU and the monthly facts visit the Liverpool Women’s website.