Miscarriage Care and Facilities in Scotland: Scoping Report NHS Borders

Opening hours of miscarriage care services

Early Pregnancy Unit

The Lancet series on Miscarriage Matters recommended that healthcare funders and providers invest in early pregnancy care, with specific focus on training for clinical nurse specialists and doctors to provide comprehensive miscarriage care within the setting of dedicated Early Pregnancy Units.

17 of the 44 sites reported that they have a dedicated Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU). This was across 10 Health Board areas (Table 2).

NHS Borders reported that the EPU at Borders General Hospital is open 08:30-16:30 Monday to Friday and closed Saturdays and Sundays (Table 6).

Maternity Unit

19 sites of the 44 sites reported that they have a Maternity Unit that is currently open. This was across all 14 Health Board areas.

NHS Borders reported that Borders General Hospital has a maternity unit that is open 24 hours a day seven days a week (Table 7).

Community Maternity Units

21 of the 44 sites said that they have a Community Maternity Unit (CMU). This was across 7 Health Board areas. The Best Start: A five year plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care refers to CMUs as either being freestanding units or alongside units.

NHS Borders reported that there is no CMU at Borders General Hospital.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

21 of the 44 sites said they had an Obstetrics and Gynaecology department. This was across all 14 Health Boards areas.

NHS Borders reported that there is one Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at Borders General Hospital which is open 24 hours a day seven days a week (Table 8).

Recurrent Miscarriage Services

13 of the 44 sites said they have recurrent miscarriage services. This was across 11 Health Board areas.

NHS Borders reported that they run recurrent miscarriage services at Borders General Hospital, however, there is no specific clinic. This service is provided when required depending on when relevant consultants are available.

Infertility Services

14 of the 44 sites said they have infertility services. This was across 12 Health Board areas.

NHS Borders reported provide infertility services provided at Borders General Hospital however there is no specific clinic. This service is provided when required depending on when relevant consultants are available.

Accident and Emergency

37 of the 44 sites said they have a Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. This was across all 14 Health Board areas. All A&E sites said they were open 24 hours every day including weekends in all Health Board areas.

NHS Borders reported that Borders General Hospital had an A&E facility open 24 hours seven days a week.

Out of Hours Care

If a woman presents at A&E with suspected miscarriage through the night (out of hours) in Scotland the reported processes varied both within and between Health Boards.

The survey asked what would happen if a woman presents at A&E with suspected miscarriage through the night (out of hours) within NHS Borders. Borders General Hospital reported that treatment of women who present at their site out of hours is dependent on gestation, clinical presentation and the woman's wishes. If they are clinically stable, they are offered a scan in the Pregnancy Assessment Unit (PAU) within opening hours, if they are not clinically stable and require to be seen immediately they are seen by the on-call obstetrics and gynaecology registrar and are admitted to a bereavement room if necessary.