Patient information

Gynaecology

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your appointment.

Before your appointment

You can usually be seen on the same day as referral, or if non-urgent within two or three days.

There is no need for preparation prior to your first appointment, although if you have questions, it may be useful to write these down beforehand to discuss at your appointment.

You are welcome to bring anyone who has your consent with you to your appointment. As much as possible we would like to request if you could prevent from brining children to our unit in order to be sensitive to our patients. If you are unable to identify childcare on the day of your appointment, we may ask you to wait with your child in a different waiting area.

Please be aware that the consultation may involve an internal examination. If you are uncomfortable, any accompanying persons can be asked to wait outside the examining area. A chaperone may be requested at any time in line with our Trust’s policy.

On arrival, go to the reception desk located at the entrance of the early pregnancy and acute gynaecology unit (EPAGU) or the gynaecology emergency care unit (GEC). When you arrive for your first appointment, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. This usually takes about 10 minutes.

After this you will be registered by the receptionist. The waiting times can vary from this point, as this is an emergency service.

During your appointment

Your appointment will usually last between 15 and 30 minutes.

You will be invited into a private consultation room and be seen by a female or male doctor or specialist nurse.

You are likely to undergo an ultrasound scan. This is usually an internal scan where a small probe is inserted gently into the vagina. You may be asked to pass urine before an internal scan.

It may be necessary for the person performing the ultrasound scan to ask for a second opinion and therefore another person may be asked to attend during the ultrasound scan. Following the ultrasound scan we will discuss the findings and any management options with you.
You may require a blood test or we may need to take a urine sample.

Please note that our hospitals are teaching hospitals, so medical, nursing or midwifery students may be present for some appointments. We will always ask you if you are comfortable for the student to stay and observe. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the student will be asked to step outside.

After your appointment

If you need further follow-up appointments, we will arrange these with you on the day.

If any of your investigations such as urgent blood tests are abnormal, we will call you within 24 hours of your appointment. Some results take longer than 24 hours to be returned and we will notify you of any abnormal result once these tests are available.

Support groups

We run online support groups for couples who have suffered from early pregnancy loss.

The miscarriage support group is run by a dedicated team from the EPAGU for women and their partners who have suffered from pregnancy loss early in pregnancy. The team involves a trained psychotherapist and specialised gynaecology and early pregnancy nurse.

Find out more information about attending this group.

Call the Miscarriage Association: 01924 200 799 (09.00-16.00, Monday to Friday).

The ectopic pregnancy support group is, run by a dedicated team from the EPAGU and the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, the largest charity for women who have suffered from an ectopic pregnancy in the UK, for women and their partners who have suffered an ectopic pregnancy.

Find out more information about attending this group, (book and access more information for virtual support group through Zoom) please ask for more information during your appointment.

Call the Miscarriage Association: 01924 200 799 (09.00-16.00, Monday to Friday)
Visit the Miscarriage Association

Call the Tommy’s Pregnancy Helpline: 0800 0147 800 (09.00-17.00, Monday to Friday)