Miscarriage Care and Facilities in Scotland: Scoping Report National Overview
This report details the findings of a scoping exercise to enable better understanding of miscarriage care in Scotland nationally. The report seeks to aid policy makers and Health Boards in making decisions about what improvements are required to miscarriage care in Scotland.
Referrals and assessment following a loss
The Lancet series stated that 'the consequences of miscarriage are both physical, such as bleeding or infection, and psychological. Psychological consequences include increases in the risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide. As psychological morbidity is common after pregnancy loss, effective screening instruments and treatment options for mental health consequences of miscarriage need to be available'[9].
Referrals and assessment for support services following a loss were provided by 13 of the 14 Health Boards. NHS Shetland cares for women experiencing first trimester losses and refers to services out with the Health Board area for second trimester losses, including specialist bereavement services. In NHS Shetland mental health and counselling referrals are made via the GP although if there are concerns midwives can make a referral prior to discharge (Table 16).
Across the individual Health Board areas, it is unclear if there are referral pathways directly from early pregnancy services or maternity services to NHS or third party services for mental health, bereavement, or counselling support. Across all Health Boards there does not appear to be a clear process in all sites that provide miscarriage care, for the routine assessment or referral to support services.
Health Board |
Assessment of women for risk of psychological distress following miscarriage |
Referring women to NHS services for mental health support following a loss |
Referring women to third party services for mental health support following a loss |
Referring women to NHS services for bereavement support following a loss |
Referring women to third party services for bereavement support following a loss |
Referring women to NHS services for counselling following a loss |
Referring women to third party services for counselling following a loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NHS Ayrshire and Arran |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (2 sites) |
NHS Borders |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
NHS Dumfries and Galloway |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
NHS Fife |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
NHS Forth Valley |
Information provided |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
NHS Grampian |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (1 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Not provided |
Provided (1 sites) |
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
NHS Highland |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (10 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided (3 sites) |
NHS Lanarkshire |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (2 sites) |
NHS Lothian |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
Provided in Board area not on site |
NHS Orkney |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided in board area not on site |
NHS Shetland* |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
Provided in Health Board area for first trimester losses |
NHS Tayside |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided in board area not on site |
Provided (3 sites) |
Provided in board area not on site |
NHS Western Isles |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (2 sites) |
Provided (1 site) |
Provided (1 site) |
*NHS Shetland only provide first trimester care with second trimester care referred to NHS Grampian
Contact
Email: socialresearch@gov.scot
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