Women and Newborn Health Service
Health Professionals
King Edward Memorial Hospital
Early Pregnancy Assessment Service
- Our aim
- We provide
- Referral criteria
- Referral procedure
- Contacts for referral
- Resources for patients
Our aim
Our aim is to provide care and support, within a sensitive and confident environment, for women who are experiencing problems in early pregnancy that do not require urgent management.
We provide
The dedicated Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS) provides a consultant-led service with ultrasound support.
KEMH is pleased to report the following achievements since the introduction of EPAS in July 2008:
- 21% reduction in patient waiting times
- Reduced patient frustration
- 4% reduction in admissions to hospital
- Reduced congestion in the Emergency Centre after-hours
- Greater efficiency in the Emergency Centre
- Increased capacity to manage urgent cases
- Improved patient and staff satisfaction
Referral criteria
Women in the first trimester who have had a positive pregnancy test and one or more of the following:
- abdominal/pelvic pain
- vaginal bleeding
- previous ectopic pregnancy
- previous tubal surgery
- two or more previous miscarriages
- IUCD in-situ
Referral procedure
EPAS is located in the Emergency Centre and has an appointment system that operates from 0830-1230 Monday to Friday.
Bookings can be made anytime by calling (08) 9340 1431. During office hours you can also contact the EPAS midwife via the KEMH switchboard (08) 9340 2222.
Please send a referral letter with the patient or fax to (08) 9340 1402.
Women who present or are referred with non-urgent symptoms (such as mild pain or light vaginal bleeding) outside regular service hours will be assessed by a midwife and given an appointment to return to EPAS.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are concerned that your patient may not be suitable to be seen by the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (i.e. they are haemodynamically unstable, have severe pain or heavy bleeding) please call the Emergency Centre on (08) 9340 1431 for clinical advice and to arrange urgent referral if indicated.
Contacts for referral
The KEMH Emergency Centre is often busy and referral of non-urgent cases can result in considerable delays. If you wish to book an appointment for a patient with problems in early pregnancy or you are unsure of the appropriateness of a referral to the Emergency Centre please call EPAS on the numbers below.
Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS)
Ph: 9340 1431 or 9340 2222 (ask for EPAS midwife)
Urgent queries Less than 20 weeks
Ph: 9340 1431 (ask for gynae registrar)
Over 20 weeks
Ph: 9340 2222 (ask for senior registrar on duty)
Urgent outpatient referrals
Referral of patients to an obstetric physician’s clinic for medical problems in pregnancy.
Ph: 9340 2222 (ask to page 3419)
Fax: 9340 1031
Fetal anomalies
Advise from the coordinating midwife or fetal medicine specialist is available during office hours should you have any queries.
Ph: 9340 2705
Fax: 9340 1061
Resources for patients
- Bleeding and/or Pain in Early Pregnancy
- Misoprostol Therapy for Early Pregnancy Loss
- Pregnancy Loss in the First 13 Weeks of Pregnancy
- Dilatation and Curette (D&C)
- Pregnancy of Unknown Location
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Morning Sickness - A Simple Guide to Ease Your Discomfort
