Early pregnancy / emergency gynaecology unit - Clinic 24

Early pregnancy care is provided up to 12 + 6 weeks gestation for women who have concerns with their pregnancy, such as pain and / or bleeding. We offer assessment for hyperemesis gravidarum up to 14 weeks gestation. We also provide early pregnancy care for women who have previously experienced ectopic pregnancy, recurrent pregnancy loss or gestational trophoblastic disease.

Gynaecological concerns can include pain, bleeding, infections and swelling / prolapse.

How to find us

Clinic 24 is on Level 1 (street level) of the Rosie hospital, next to the ultrasound department. On entering the Rosie hospital, pass the Reception and Pavillion Café. Take the first left and clinic 24 is on the left.

Referrals

Clinic 24 operates an online and telephone triage/referral service.

You may also be referred directly to Clinic 24 by your GP, midwife, or the Emergency Department.

Early pregnancy concerns

Completing the online self-referral form is quick and easy.

Referrals received will be reviewed and triaged within 24 hours.

Referral form

Please note that Clinic 24 is closed on Bank Holidays and therefore referrals submitted over this period will be reviewed and patients contacted on the next working day.

Gynaecology concerns

If you are experiencing symptoms following gynaecological procedures within the last 30 days, please contact Clinic 24 by telephone.

This may include:

• If you have had an inpatient procedure within 30 days including gynaecology surgery, colposcopy, hysteroscopy, cystoscopy
• If you have had a intrauterine coil insertion at the hospital within 30 days
• If you have had a recent Bartholin's cyst/abscess drained at the hospital

Your call will be answered by an appropriately trained member of staff who will assess your symptoms and advise on the most appropriate next steps.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be:

• Advised to attend Clinic 24
• Directed to the Emergency Department
• Advised to contact your GP
• Given advice if attendance is not required

Out-of-Hours Service

When Clinic 24 is closed, telephone triage is provided by staff on Daphne Ward, the inpatient gynaecology ward.

If your condition does not require immediate emergency care, we recommend either contacting Daphne Ward for advice rather than attending the Emergency Department directly or submitting a self referral form if you are pregnant.

Attending Clinic 24

If you are asked to attend Clinic 24, you will not receive a confirmation letter, email, or text message. Please attend at the date and time given to you during your telephone consultation or as advised by your GP or midwife.

If you use MyChart, please note that the appointment time displayed may not be accurate. You should attend at the time advised by the Clinic 24 team.

When you arrive

On arrival at clinic 24, you need to check in at the reception desk. You will be seen by a nurse who will assess you and decide whether you require nurse-led care or referral to a doctor. If you are seen by a doctor, further history and an examination may be required. If an examination is required, you will have a chaperone.

If you are coming for a scan, the result and plan of your on-going care will be discussed with you before you leave the clinic.

Your appointment

When you attend clinic 24, we aim to see you in a timely manner. Depending on how many patients there are to be seen, there may be a delay, and this will be communicated to you. As we are an emergency clinic, patients will be seen in order of clinical urgency.

Unfortunately, space in the clinic is limited, so we ask that you bring no more than one person to support you. Please note that the clinic is not a suitable environment for children.

Next steps

From your attendance at clinic 24, your on-going care will take one of four pathways:

• you may be discharged with no further follow up needed.
• you may be discharged with a follow up plan. If follow up requires treatment or monitoring, you will be given a further appointment. If follow up can be delivered over the telephone, a date for a telephone call will be arranged.
• you may be discharged back to the care of your GP or midwife.
• you may be transferred to Daphne Ward within the Rosie Hospital for further care.

Patient information

• Gynaecology patient information leaflets
• Maternal Medicine patient information leaflets