Women attending the Ulster Hospital’s Gynae Hub are receiving specialist support and compassionate care from a dedicated team helping them through some of the most difficult and uncertain times in their lives.
The Gynae Hub brings together a range of services designed to provide women with timely assessment, treatment and support including early pregnancy care, gynaecology assessment and a dedicated Hyperemesis Bay.
South Eastern Trust, Early Pregnancy Nurse, Judith Chapman said the service provides a vital source of reassurance for women experiencing difficulties during the early stages of pregnancy.
Judith explained, “Our Early Pregnancy Service supports women from around five weeks up to eleven weeks and six days of pregnancy who may be experiencing pain, bleeding or other concerns. We provide assessment, advice, support and counselling and where necessary arrange an appointment for further assessment and care.
“We are open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and also provide a telephone service. If a woman is experiencing a problem and is unable to get the advice or support she needs we can provide advice over the phone and aim to get back to her within 24 hours.”
The team also provides dedicated support for women experiencing pregnancy loss including access to a recurrent pregnancy loss service for women who have experienced several miscarriages.
Judith added: “Supporting women who are experiencing pregnancy loss is a very important part of what we do. For women who have experienced recurrent miscarriage, we can arrange initial investigations including blood tests before they are referred to the specialist Consultant for further review.
“It is a privilege to care for women who are going through loss or experiencing difficulties in their pregnancy. It can be a very private and difficult experience and women may not always feel able to talk about it with people outside the service.
“Here they can talk openly about their experiences and know that they are being listened to and supported. We are here to provide care and compassion at a time when women may need it most.”
South Eastern Trust, Gynae Hub Staff Nurse, Karen Tomelty, explained how the Hub also supports women attending with urgent gynaecological problems, “We care for women who attend with gynaecological emergencies and support them through their journey whether they require admission to a ward or follow-up treatment in one of our gynaecology clinics.
“The aim of the Hub is to bring women through for assessment as quickly as possible rather than having them wait unnecessarily in the Emergency Department. We can arrange for them to be assessed by the appropriate medical team and ensure they are directed to the right service for their ongoing care.
The Gynae Hub has also introduced a dedicated Hyperemesis Bay providing specialist support for women experiencing severe pregnancy sickness.
Karen stated, “The Hyperemesis Bay is a new service for our department and we support women with Hyperemesis by helping to manage their symptoms and providing the treatment they need. The feedback from women who have used the service has been fantastic. We have supported many women with medication and symptom control and it has been lovely to see some of them return with their babies following successful pregnancies.
“We want every woman who comes through our doors to feel listened to supported and cared for and to know that they are not alone.”
The Gynae Hub telephone advice service can be contacted on (028) 9056 1385.