Referral to EPU over the phone?

[allthesharks]

I'm 6 weeks pregnant. Yesterday I had a sharp pain on my lower left side followed by cramping and pain in my lower back which didn't subside at all. The cramping is even worse this morning and is making me feel sick. This will be considered to be a high risk pregnancy as I have had two premature deliveries due to an incompetent cervix and had complications in both previous pregnancies.

I've just moved house and haven't registered with a new GP yet. If I can get a telephone appointment with my current GP (too far to easily travel to), would they be able to do a referral to EPU without seeing me?

Call the hospital and ask to speak to the EPU. Tell them what you've said here and they may just tell you to go in.

Whenever I've visited the EPU, I never had to go through my GP.
Just called unit.

Good luck, I hope everything's ok

I tried calling EPU but they operate a strict referral only procedure. I've got a telephone appointment with my GP for this morning. Hopefully they'll be able to refer me.

I keep swinging between thinking I'm overreacting and worrying there's something wrong.

If you don't get anywhere with the GP please go to A&E. They'll no doubt send you to the EPU. Is there someone who can take you?

Just a thought won’t your GP refer you to the local to the GPS EPU rather than where you are now? It might be diff NHS trusts as well so not as easy to refer?

The other way to be referred is to go to a walk in centre - or if the pain increases maybe A&E - as the pain could indicate something else going on

I'm hoping my GP can refer me to the local hospital here. I knew I was moving when I found out I was pregnant and as I needed to be referred to a consultant my GP was able to refer me to the new hospital.

My partner's Mum is on hand if I need her but I'm not far from the hospital anyway so I can get a cab there if I need to.

My GP has referred me to the local EPU so I'm waiting to hear from them.