EPU experiences during covid

[emvy]

Has anyone been seen in EPU during the pandemic? The midwife has said to get the gp to refer me tomorrow after I’ve had some bleeding and cramping (the midwife unit can’t do it until I’m 9 weeks and I’m only 6+2). I’m just fearful they’re going to say they won’t see me. This is my third potential miscarriage (not consecutive) and I really don’t know how I’ll cope if I can’t be seen. I was just wondering if anyone had been seen in their EPU or turned away because of the pandemic? Thanks!

Hello, I was referred by a GP on Thursday last week and was seen at my local EPAU on Friday.

I was asked to wear a mask to the hospital, I waited outside the ward was taken in for blood pressure checks and urine samples and temp checking and then asked to wait outside again and then invited in for my internal scan.

Baby was well (I'd had a bleed id thought was my period and turned out I was pregnant so went in to check all ok)

I'm 10 weeks pregnant now and they were able to see baby and a heartbeat 💓

I hope this helps xx I wrote a similar post earlier in the week

I presented at A&E with bleeding on the advice of a midwife at around 8 weeks. A&E did blood pressure and urine tests and called up to A&E to ask if they would scan me and they said no because I had a previous scan (IVF baby so that's standard) and they knew it wasn't ectopic. I was sent home with EPU's number and told to call if the bleeding became heavy enough to fill a sanitary towel. Later in the day it did become heavier so I called EPU and they agreed to see me the next day and scan me.

They were lovely once they agreed to see me and luckily the baby was ok, but I had a lot of unneeded and anxiety and exposure in hospital due to their initial refusal to see me so my advice would be really push to be scanned. I wish I had kicked up more of a fuss in A&E but I just cried instead.

That should say that A&E called up to EPU

I did. The hours are reduced though and I was told to go to A&E after 5 if I got any worse. I waited it out and got seen in EPU the following day.

I've been referred by GP once and self-referred once. With the GP it unfortunately was a week until I could be seen, but that was five or six weeks ago when lockdown was far more intense. When I self-referred at 2.5 weeks ago I was seen two working days later (called Thursday, seen Monday). Of course it will also depend on your area and how much demand they're having, too. Both times I was seen for persistent bleeding.

Sorry you're going through this op, really hope you can be seen quickly and get a positive answer.

Sorry I should have added, when I was in epu they gave me a mask to wear and most staff were wearing face shields as well as masks. The waiting rooms had also been spaced out. Otherwise experience once there was quite standard.

I self referred to EPU and they saw me. They gave me to 2 scans during the pandemic and even let my partner come into the scan room. He wasn’t allowed into the waiting room but he could stand in the corridor. When they were ready to scan me they called him in.

They did tell me that one of the reasons they still saw me (I wasn’t bleeding, just in a lot of pain) was because I was already under the care of the recurring miscarriage clinic.

Thank you so much for your responses ladies, it sounds like they are still seeing people then. Now just to hope my GP refers me! I’m expecting a call at 10.30. Darker test this morning & bleeding has stopped. Obviously feeling very confused & not wanting to get my hopes up.

I hope you all had positive outcomes from your EPU trips. Thanks ladies x

Little update if anyone is interested. They wouldn’t scan me. I have to wait until I’m 7 weeks, which will be Friday. So I have a GP appointment mid morning to then refer to the EPU if a pregnancy test is still positive then. I’m expecting they won’t be able to see me Friday as it’ll be too late in the day for any left over appointments and I’ll be booked for the Monday. Which is an entire week to wait. As if that’s an easy thing to do when you’re losing your mind. Send strength!