Miscarriage Care and Facilities in Scotland: Scoping Report NHS Shetland

Opening hours of miscarriage care services

Early Pregnancy Units

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).

There is no EPU in NHS Shetland.

Maternity Units

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.

In NHS Shetland, the Gilbert Bain Hospital has a maternity unit that is open 24 hours a day seven days a week (Table 6).

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.

There is no CMU in NHS Shetland.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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

In NHS Shetland the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at Gilbert Bain Hospital is open 08:00-16:00 Monday to Friday and is closed on the weekends (Table 7).

Recurrent miscarriage services

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

In NHS Shetland there is no Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic.

Infertility services

Across Scotland there are 14 infertility services across 12 Health Boards..

In NHS Shetland infertility services run 13:30-17:00 on Fridays and is closed all other days of the week (Table 8).

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.

In NHS Shetland, the Gilbert Bain Hospital has an accident and emergency 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.

If a woman presents at A&E with suspected miscarriage through the night (out of hours) within NHS Shetland they would be directed to the Maternity Unit within the Gilbert Bain Hospital.