Miscarriage Care and Facilities in Scotland: Scoping Report NHS Dumfries and Galloway

Dedicated facilities

Unexpected pregnancy complications at any gestation

The Scottish Government has committed to the provision of dedicated facilities for women experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications through the Programme for Government 2021-22^[6]. All sites in the survey were asked if they currently provide dedicated facilities for women experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications at any gestation and sites with an EPU were also asked to indicate if they currently provide dedicated facilities for women experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications at any gestation within the EPU.

Within NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary indicated that they currently provide dedicated facilities for women experiencing unexpected pregnancy complications at any gestation (Table 12)

Separate room/area/ward

All sites in Scotland were asked if they provide a separate room, area or ward away from the labour ward for women that are miscarrying. They were also asked if they provide a separate room, area, ward or unit with dedicated services to admit women who are miscarrying. The number of separate rooms reported to be available for women who are experiencing miscarriage ranged between 1 and 12 rooms per site.

There is no dedicated EPU at either of the two sites in NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary reported that they are able to provide a separate room/area/ward away from the labour ward and also a separate room area/ward/unit with dedicated services to admit women who are miscarrying. There is one room on the gynaecology ward to admit women who are miscarrying in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, there is another room available for women who are experiencing still birth or termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly (TOPFA) in the maternity ward area. Women who are experiencing molar or ectopic pregnancies are admitted to the gynaecology ward in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The facilities that are provided outwith the EPU are set out in Table 12 above.

Scanning facilities

Scans are often performed to confirm a miscarriage has occurred. For this scoping exercise, all sites in Scotland were asked if a separate area was available to carry out complication or investigative scans separated from women with a continuing pregnancy. Overall, eight out of the 14 Health Boards reported having a separate area to carry out complication/investigative scans separated from women with a continuing pregnancy, either within or outwith the EPU.

When asked about areas where complication or investigative scans are carried out, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary carries out scans in the Maternity Unit (24 hours a day, seven days a week) and in the recurrent miscarriage clinic (09:00-12:30 on Mondays) within the same area as other expectant mothers. Within the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department these scans are carried out separated from other expectant mothers and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Galloway Community Hospital has scanning facilities available 9:00-17:00 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, where scans are carried out in the same area as other expectant mothers (Table 13).